Speaking two-dimentionally as a visual, if Earth spun clockwise and a plane flew counterclockwise, would the plane get there quicker? Or do Physics' laws of relativity not affect it at all?
2006-10-01 09:04:14 · 5 answers · asked by rumilb 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Airplanes do have to correct for centrifugal and Coriolis forces, and it's not a small effect. This tends to happen automatically as part of the navigation process. In other words, the pilot (human or automatic) is always compensating the controls to correct for these forces, as a result of feedback from the navigation system.
2006-10-01 09:35:09 · answer #1 · answered by cosmo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the giant rail cannons of the second world war included corrections for the rotation of the earth while the projectile was in the air.
Similarly, the relative motion od the earth is a factor in a jet aircraft flight. However, the amount of winds aloft will have a much greater effect, since the aircraft is travelling in the air.
One "time" effect of the earth's rotation... JET LAG. even going across the united states, you are waking up 3 hours earlier or later every day. Where did those three hours go/come from?
You can even skip a whole day flying across the pacific.
2006-10-01 20:07:37 · answer #2 · answered by disco legend zeke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The influence of relativistic effects on air travel is infinitesimal. The Earth's rotation does determine the direction of prevailing winds and the jet streams. This does affect air travel, as planes flying east can sometimes take advantage of a jet stream tail wind.
2006-10-01 16:31:26 · answer #3 · answered by injanier 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is affected- about 1 billionth of a second is the amount of "time travel"
2006-10-01 16:17:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no it does not
2006-10-01 16:05:38 · answer #5 · answered by prasad g 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋