Is the time taken by an aeroplane from A to B, same as B to A considering the relatve movement of the earth?

Question

If for example you are flying from East Afica to New York, non stop, is the time taken while flying at the same speed be the same as the Return Trip bearing in mind about the relative spin of the earth. I thought one would take a longer. How can one calculate this?

Answer 1

It takes the same time,( unless u intend to travel frm outer space relative to other heavenly bodies.)
Only the relative speed of wind matters in which direction u r moving.
U can jump the same distance frm west to east or frm est to wst

Answer 2

SIMPLE ANSWER:

When you jump, you land in the same "space" relative to the earth. This is because the earth is not accelerating. When you are travel ling at a constant speed in a car, you are really going 0 miles per hour relative to the car, no matter if you are going 30 mph backwards or 30 mph forwards relative to the earth.

So if you travel with earth's spin, you are already moving at X miles per hour, and you just add however fast you are going to that velocity. If you go against the spin you are going X miles per hour and you just subtract however fast you are going to that velocity. To an outside observer on the moon, you'd be going insanely fast going one way, and a little bit under insanely fast going the other.... either way, to answer your question:

Using the earth as a relative object, your speed is just however fast you are going in the plane, no matter what the speed of the earth in spinning or direction it is spinning...
However if you use the moon you need to take in effect going against the spin of the earth or going with it.

Answer 3

The spin of the earth doesn't matter. The plane is moving relative to the surface of the earth. The fact that the surface itself is moving is irrelevant. It's also irrelevant that the earth is moving around the sun, and the sun around the galactic core.

That said, the rotation of the earth does affect the global wind patterns, which in turn affect the speed of the plane. But I don't think that's what you were asking about.

Answer 4

Yes, as far as the rotation of the earth is concerned, because the atmosphere through which the plane is flying is rotating with the earth (ignoring wind). But of course the wind cannot be ignored: over the continental US, winds tend to blow from west to east, so a trip from San Francisco to New York will probably be faster than the trip back, as you can see by inspecting any airline's schedule.

Answer 5

It is the same, don't believe try jumping forward and then backwards again on the bus. (Just make sure people don't think you are insane or you don't bump into people.) It takes the same time becos before the plane started flying, it is already moving the same speed as the earth rotation.

Answer 6

You can't calculate that, because they take a different route. They fly a slightly different way, to avoid other planes, and the winds. They never fly the exact same way to and from a place.

Answer 7

take into consideration the jet stream and air turbulence, that'll slow you down or speed you up depending on whether your going with it or against it.