If a helicopter flys straight up and stays in one place without moving, after 12 hrs will it come down in the same place or would the earth have rotated underneath it and the helicopter lands on the opposite side of the the planet?
2006-09-12 19:04:10 · 7 answers · asked by newyorktocountry 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
It is all relative.
First, relative to spacetime, nothing is stationary. Not even you sitting at your computer. You are stationary RELATIVE to the ground underneath you which is spinning around as the earth rotates. The earth is orbiting around the Sun. The Sun is orbiting around the center of our galaxy in its spiral arm. The galaxy is orbiting relative to a focal point among the "local group" of galaxies. So, nothing is motionless.
Now, consider momentum. As the helicopter is sitting on the ground, it is moving along. If it is sitting on the ground at the earth's equator, relative to one frame of reference, it is moving along at over 1,000mph. It already has "eastward" velocity just sitting there. In order for it to go up and let the earth spin away from underneath it, it would have to achieve what is referred to as escape velocity--or the speed required to escape a mass's gravity well. The escape velocity for earth is over 20,000mph. I do not know of too many, well okay any helicopters that can travel that fast. Besides, if anything did achieve escape velocity in order to go up away from the ground and remain stationary, not only would the ground spin out from underneath it, the earth would leave it behind as the earth continued on in its orbit of the Sun.
2006-09-12 23:51:32 · answer #1 · answered by quntmphys238 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Same place, the earth rotate incredibly fast (google it for exacts)but gravity keeps you in the same spot if this wasnt the case simply jumping in the air would send you to a differnt local
2006-09-12 19:06:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm thinking different. Not the opposite side, because of wind, high and low pressures, etc. but a different spot. Your helicopter isn't gonna follow that original spot without some fancy navigating.
2006-09-12 19:17:18 · answer #3 · answered by terri m 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Same place, the earth rotate incredibly fast (google it for exacts)but gravity keeps you in the same spot if this wasnt the case simply jumping in the air would send you to a differnt local
2006-09-12 21:02:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
In the same place
2006-09-12 20:05:43 · answer #5 · answered by wisecrack 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think different, though not far off from the original spot.
2006-09-12 23:33:31 · answer #6 · answered by Robin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in same place im sure
2006-09-12 19:10:00 · answer #7 · answered by hailiemackenzie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋