epsilon72 said:
Sqrl said:
epsilon72 said:
Sqrl said:
Ok i have the best example I can think of:
If a plane is sitting on the equator on a runway can it take off against the counter-rotation of the earth?
Hopefully that should help some people. |
There's one difference there - the atmosphere is stationary relative to the earth's rotation. That's not the case with our conveyor belt.
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Edit: The only thing that matters is the speed of atmosphere relative to the plane. If a plane is sitting on a treadmill with its wheels moving at a speed corresponding to the speed of the treadmill the atmosphere is stationary relative to the plane. In this situation if the plane attempts to accelerate it can and will take off. However it will not take off just by sitting there. Edit2: Unless you are implying that the "negative" windspeed relative to the plane prevents it from accelerating. That doesn't sound right to me, but if you have a good argument for it I am interested. |
I meant that the atmosphere is stationary relative to the plane. I guess I didn't make that clear. (have cold...can't articulate clearly) |
A plane sitting on the equator has no relative airspeed.
A plane on a treadmill with its wheels spinning at the speed of the treadmill has no relative airspeed.
I avoid saying the plane is "traveling" on the treadmill because it really isn't travelling relative to anything except the treadmill.
Let me know if I am missing something, but I think the analogy works.
