| Airplane on a Treadmill |
I recently stumbled upon a rather large (apparently) Internet controversy: The airplane on a treadmill. Basically, the thought question goes like this...If a plane was at rest on a conveyor belt, and both the conveyor belt and plane began traveling in opposite direction at the same rate of acceleration, would the plane be able to take off? Here's what gets me: Why is this even a question?!?! A plane uses the air to get moving, so what difference does it make if it's sitting on a runway or a treadmill? What, you get a slight bit of friction from the wheels? The force that the plane's engine is going to create to move the plane forward is ridiculously incomparable to the friction that the wheels would experience. Bottom line: A plane moves forward because of its engine, not the wheels. The plane will take off. Period. Ok, enough of that, back to lunch... ;) |
| Last Updated on Sunday, 08 February 2009 04:52 |