Will an airplane be able to use the earth's rotation to get to a destination faster? If a helicopter hovers in place for 24 hours, will the world make one full rotation underneath it?
2006-08-15 21:30:54 · 11 answers · asked by jvibs 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
No, because the airplane and helicopter are moving together with the atmosphere.
Generally, if the airplane flies west, it will reach its destination in longer time, since it has to go against the wind.
2006-08-15 21:34:51 · answer #1 · answered by Joseph 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think the earth's rotation has to do anything with the speed of an airplane. Try studying aerodynamics, you might get ideas there on what affects the speed of an airplane.
About your question of the helicopter, the world will make a full rotation, sure, but with the helicopter with it since the earth's gravitational force pulls the helicopter to the spot where it is hovering.
2006-08-15 21:42:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, it will not get to its destination faster.
The plane (or helicopter), the earth, and the air are all moving at the same speed and in the same direction. (Incidentally, the earth spins eastward, not westward)
Since the earth spins eastward at say 1000 miles per hour (the exact speed depends on your latitude), then so does the air and the airplane (or helicopter) when it is sitting on the ground. So the velocity of the airplane (relative to the air and the earth) is zero. And to a little green man sitting in his saucer out in space watching, the plane and the air and the earth are all going at the same speed.
When the plane takes off, and flies towards its destination at, say 300 miles per hour, then the little green man sees it travelling at 1300 miles per hour (because the earth is turning at 1000 miles per hour + the airplane is flying at 300 miles per hour), and the air is moving at 1000 miles per hour and the destination on the earth is moving at 1000 miles per hour. And so the plane gets closer to its destination at only 300 miles per hour.
Now as some others have pointed out, because of the jetstream, the prevailing winds blow from west to east at high altitudes and so if you fly east, you get a tailwind which pushes you along, and when going west you get a headwind which you must fight against, so flying west usually takes longer than flying east. On the other hand, flying west is flying against the rotation of the earth and so when you cross a time zone it will gain hours whereas when you fly east (with the earth's rotation) you lose hours.
2006-08-16 01:14:45 · answer #3 · answered by sparc77 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, because the airplane is flying with respect to the air, which rotates with the earth. As for the helicopter, one must be precise about the meaning of "in place". The usual definition means a particular place on the earth's surface, so the helicopter will go around with the earth as it rotates.
2006-08-15 21:36:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
An airplane is flying in the atomsphere which moves with the earth's rotation. Same for a helicopter.
2006-08-15 21:48:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe it will not get to the destination faster as it is still bound to the gravity as long as it is situated inside the ozone layer. will it get to the destination somewhat faster if it flies very high, outside the ozone layer? the fuel can't be burned because no oxygen, physical factor to consider is: bigger radius (from the middle earth to the outer space) will make the distance longer, time it takes to go to the outer space and comeback to earth also will be longer. Basically what I'm saying is that, you can't get to the destination faster unless you increase the speed of the airplane
2006-08-15 21:40:50 · answer #6 · answered by Tingkatan3 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The airlplane would go SLOWER because it is flying against the wind; the helicopter wouldn't sway because of inertia; it IS moving laterally but at the SAME SPEED as the Earth is moving, so no movement is actually seen. It's the same reason why, if you're driving in a car and toss a ball in the air it doesn't go flying to the back window.
If you hit the brakes, the ball will hit the widshield because of inertia.
2006-08-15 21:36:00 · answer #7 · answered by CrispyEd 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, because 1) it starts out moving away from its destination and 2) the atmosphere it travels through is moving away from its destination.
2006-08-15 21:44:04 · answer #8 · answered by Tom D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes and no on the helicopter because i think gravity is holding its place in that area. that would be cool though.
2006-08-15 21:34:20 · answer #9 · answered by supraman126 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you must have no life to come up with a question like that but
good question tho definatly
2006-08-15 21:35:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋