In theory, since the world turns at such a quick speed....?

Question

would it be a plausable form of transportation to simple be lifted into mid-air, sit there and have the earth rotate below you, by the earth rotating, could you be 100 miles away in an hour or so? Why do we not do this?

so by these answers, is it safe for me to say that in order to stay in the same point in space, not on earth, but in space, I would have to generate enough thrust (approximately 1,000 mph worth of it) and use that thrust in the exact opposite direction of the earths rotation? and in order to move against the earths rotation, I would have to generate >1000 mph of thrust in the exact opposite directiong of the earths rotation?

Answer 1

Sorry, but you are missing the point to one of Newton's laws of motion: A body will remain at rest or continue moving unless it is acted upon by an external force.

When you are standing on the earth, you are moving at the same rate it is. When you jump, that doesn't change, so you move with the earth's rotation.

Answer 2

Because we are connected to the Earth. The surface speed at the equator is about 1000 miles per hour. It is approx. 24000 miles around the Earth so it take s 24 hrs. to complete one revolution. The problem is that if you are on the equator you can't simply lift yourself into the air and wait for the Earth to go past you since you are also travelling at 1000 miles per hour. To counter this effect would require a great amount of force. So you are going along at 1000 mph and you want to travel forward or backward with reference to the Earth's rotation. In order to do that you would have to change your current velocity from what it is to something different. So what we have already in place to do this are our feet, bicycles, cars, trucks, airplanes, etc. If you constructed an orbitting stationary object in space that you could hang onto you would have to grab it while it is going by at 1000 mph at the equator. It would also be required to have a propulsion system that would help it maintain it's stationary position in space while counteracting the force that you applied while latching onto it.

Answer 3

As others have already pointed out, our atmosphere in general moves with Earth's rotation. However, you've got your head screwed on straight because almost all space vehicles are launched to the east in order to gain some speed from Earth's rotation in that same direction.

Answer 4

The gravity that pulls us down to the ground doesn't allow it. If you just get in some kind of levitating airplane to wait for the Earth to turn below you and just land when the place the you want to go is underneath is not possible. Even though you are not touching the ground, gravity is still pulling you and you would still turn allong with the Earth. The only way this would be possible is if we reach a height where we would not be affected by the Earth's gravity and that would be out in space, that would be kind of an expensive trip!

Answer 5

The atmosphere moves with you. Also you have been moving with the earth and therefore have forward momentum. An object in motion tends to stay in motion, meaning you continue to move in the direction you already are.
Even objects in orbit move in relation to the earth. geosynchronous satellites move at the same speed as the earth and therefore maintain it's same relative position. The space shuttle is actually falling towards the earth but missing it while in orbit. That is what creates the weightlessness. Think of it as standing on a scale in a free-falling elevator. The moon is the ultimate example of an object fal from the earth's surface that still moves due to gravitational forces.

Answer 6

Because the air/atmosphere you are being "lifted into" is also moving at the same speed the earth is rotating-
Kinda like jumping up in an elevator that is going down- even though you jump up, you are still going down at the rate of the elevator's decent!

Answer 7

when you are on the ground you are moving at the same speed as the earth so as you rise you continue to move with the earth so in order to to move backwards as the earth moves forwards you will have to use some energy - an airplane for example has to use its engines regardless of which direction it goes in

Answer 8

You would have to go into space to do that...
the atmosphere moves with the planet.

Some aerospace corporations are experimenting with this technology.

EX: LA to London in an hour or less.

Answer 9

The Earths atmosphere mostly travels with it.

Answer 10

No, such a lift would not last as long as you'd want to call it a transportation. Such a lift has already been done. You, we, do not do this because you don't know how.