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Science/Tech
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Title: Brainteaser: There's an airplane on the runway..
Source: Elsewhere
URL Source: http://www.someplaceelse.com
Published: Dec 1, 2005
Author: I have no idea
Post Date: 2005-12-01 01:10:02 by Jhoffa_
Keywords: Brainteaser:, airplane, runway..
Views: 2009
Comments: 202

Imagine a plane is sat on the beginning of a massive conveyor belt/travelator type arrangement, as wide and as long as a runway, and intends to take off. The conveyer belt is designed to exactly match the speed of the wheels at any given time, moving in the opposite direction of rotation. There is no wind.

Can the plane take off?

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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 4.

#2. To: Jhoffa_ (#0)

No.

The plane much reach takeoff "air speed", a certain speed of air flowing over the wings at which lift is generated by the wings. The plane must move forward, relative to the air flow over the wings. Merely rotating the wheels via the conveyer while the plane is otherwise motionless relative to the air won't get it done.

Now, a wind tunnel instead of a conveyor....

Starwind  posted on  2005-12-01   1:16:01 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#3. To: Starwind (#2)

True.. can I change my answer ?? :P

Zipporah  posted on  2005-12-01   1:19:31 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#4. To: Zipporah (#3)

Are you sure you want to?

Jhoffa_  posted on  2005-12-01   1:21:09 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


Replies to Comment # 4.

#7. To: Jhoffa_ (#4)

Are you sure you want to?

No.. LOL!! It sounded logical when I posted it.. until STARWIND showed up.. it's all his fault... :P

Zipporah  posted on  2005-12-01 01:24:11 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#17. To: Jhoffa_, Zipporah (#4)

Are you sure you want to?

LOL! I was wrong.

The conveyer belt is designed to exactly match the speed of the wheels at any given time, moving in the opposite direction of rotation.

That is another way to say, the conveyor moves forward at the exact same speed of the plane, but the wheels never actually rotate.

So the plane would gather speed, the conveyor keeps pace, the wheels never rotate, lift is produced as the air flows over the wings, plane takes off.

See, Zipporah, you were right the first time :)

Starwind  posted on  2005-12-01 01:41:45 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


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