would the plane circle the globe? or what would it do
2006-12-26 13:59:28 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
If there was no wind the plane would circle the globe. However wind has a definite effect on the ground track of an airplane. The ground track being the vector sum of the effects of windirection and aircraft heading . Think of it like swimming across a fast moving river you start swimming straight across and by the time you reach the other side you are down stream aways from where you started.
If there was a constant wind always blowing from one side the plane would spiral arround the globe as it would be constantly pushed to the side and not make a perfect circle. Pilots have to compensate for the wiind by adjusting the aircraft heading so as to steer into the wind.
If you think about the random nature of the weather the plane will be pushed from various directions and intensities throughout its journey. Again Highly unlikely that it will make a perfect circle around the globe.
2006-12-26 14:50:14 · answer #1 · answered by MarkG 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it flew in a perfect horizontal line it would fly into space, but then again, when you consider the question "what is space", try to find something in space with which you can align yourself horizontally.
The plane would circle the globe if it flew level (maintained altitude) to the earth, but that would blow your condition of never making a turn. It wouldn't actually make a turn, but what at some point tip the nose down, whic is called "changing ptich".
2006-12-26 14:05:22 · answer #2 · answered by Jim C 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well it would run out of gas...
but seriously, it would depend on the air speed of the plane and everything. Any plane can crash into the ground because of gravity if it is going too slow. At some speed, it would be able to circle the globe perfectly, while at a faster speed it might just go off into space. Actually it would go to the upper atmosphere and burn up but you know what i mean
2006-12-26 14:02:57 · answer #3 · answered by shark7777 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if the plane kept the same altitude with respect to Earth's surface, yes it would just revolve around the Earth. If it were to actually just fly straight in a tangent line with earth. It would head off into space and never return. It's like swinging an object around in a circle and then you let it go such as a hammer throw. Since there is no more centripetal force keeping it in a circular motion. It flies off in a straight line. This is what would happen to the plane.
2006-12-26 14:07:44 · answer #4 · answered by C_Rock136 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well if it flew high enough not to run into anything and you ignore any wind affect on the plane and it had a endless fuel supply it would circle the globe.
2006-12-26 14:02:09 · answer #5 · answered by Paca 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if it were able to fly a line perpendicular to the earth, it would take it out into space. If it flew a "straight line" by maintaining an altitude of, for example, 5 feet (assuming it didn't hit anything), then it would circle the globe.
2006-12-26 14:09:57 · answer #6 · answered by WTFWJD 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Along the ground? As in, on its wheels? It would run out of fuel long before it circled the globe.
2006-12-26 14:03:04 · answer #7 · answered by kamaole3 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the globe isn't straight it the plane flies parrallel to the earth's ground then it would circle the earth.if the plane just flies straight not parralel to the ground it would fly into space.
2006-12-26 14:01:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it would circle the globe if it did not hit something. ground level is ground level all around world
2006-12-26 14:04:16 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah.... even if that plane flew cloud level you would circle the globe....
what kind of question si that?
2006-12-26 14:01:29 · answer #10 · answered by Evermore 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋