which plane would land first?

Question

So I thought of this a few weeks ago. If two planes leave the middle of the US at the same time, traveling in opposite directions towards the coasts, will the one flying west land first since its flying against Earth's rotaion?

Answer 1

No. The premise of the question would prevent either plane from landing before the other on the opposite coast. This is because you asked the question assuming that both planes leave the same spot in the exact middle of the country at the same time. We will assume they are travelling the same speed, with no tailwinds or headwinds.

Of course, the plane traveling West would arrive EARLIER than the one traveling East, because the West coast is on Pacific Time, which is 3 hours earlier than the Atlantic Time. But they would both land at the SAME moment.

The earth's rotation would not enter into this hypothetical--unless one of the planes was in orbit around the earth in space ! Even if it had no forward motion, then, it would be going forward or back vis-a-vis the earth's rotation below it. If it were a communications satellite, for example, or a space station, in geo-synchronous orbit around the world, it would actually be "standing still", over one spot on the earth, while the earth and the satellite would be traveling thousands of miles per hour together in space.

Answer 2

only if there were no-head winds. The jet stream (high in the sky winds winds) also travel west to east. Flying against them takes more time to overcome their resistance. so maybe the earth's rotation is in your favor but winds Will hurt you more.

Answer 3

no, the one flying east would land first, because of the air flow over America.

Answer 4

If you are talking real world, sandra dee is correct. In a zero wind condition (quite impossible), ohmygodapirate is correct.

Answer 5

By a very very small margin.