Why Can't we just "push" the plane up and let the earth rotate, then land on our destination instead of flyin?

Answer 1

Interesting thought. Let's not consider the affects of the atmosphere to keep the problem simple. Two things would make that approach worse than the approach we currently take to fly planes:

(1) Before being pushed up, the plane has the initial velocity of the surface of the earth. To get to a stand still condition relative to a fixed observer's view from outside the earth, so that the plane can "let the earth rotate," the plane must exert a strong and prolonged breaking force oposing its intitial velocity to decelerate that initial velocity gradually to zero.

(2) Once the plane has reached the point directly above the destination, it now cannot land. Because the destination point has been moving at the earth surface's speed, but the plane is now standing still.

Answer 2

Several reasons:

1. It would take more fuel at this moment in time than it is worth to break the Earth's gravity for such a short amount of time.

2. The Earth rotates at over 1,000 km/h, and to break free from that movement and then come back to it in such a short time would wreak havok on any one's body, not to mention electronics.

3. Most air craft at this time are not designed for those kinds of stresses. Even the Space Shuttle breaks down because of all the stresses on it. It would cost a lot of money to maintain something like that, and the airlines are already having problems with paying their maintinance personell.

4. Right now, speed is not as important as safety and comfort. None but the most adventrous would give up comfort and safety for the thrill of speed.

Answer 3

You are all missing the point. Its not the Earth that rotates, its the Earth and EVERYTHING on it - us, the air, the sea, everything.

If you want to move with respect to everything else then hovering will just not hack it. You actually have to maintain some speed relative to everything.

This is not a case of everything being dragged round by the Earth. Its a case of conservation of momentum - everything is moving along with the rotation of the Earth and just jumping in the air of itself doesn't stop it.

Answer 4

It is logically right. But then did you take into account the linear speed of the earth around its own axis .Ofcourse you should also know from your geography that all the places of the earth are not on a linear plain of the equartor. So you have to finfd out a means how to move north south and diagonally.

Answer 5

A plane cannot hover. It needs foreward motion for air to flow around the wings. This is the aerodynamics of flight. Even a helicopter couldn't hover for long enough to make any diference. Don't forget, the world takes 24 hours to spin. And what if you want to fly north/south?

Answer 6

Well, first of all, the earth spins in only one direction. Nobody's been able to figure out how to make the earth spin backwards. Would that constitute time travel? So, with your idea, you'd have to go completely around the world in order to go east 50 miles. And what happens if you want to go north or south?

Answer 7

i won't be able to have faith which you ignored Italy, Texas - in simple terms some miles south of the place I stay in Waxahachie. and how approximately Palestine, Texas? ...and with the help of dang it i've got been to very virtually all of those you named.

Answer 8

Planes dont hover.
The Earth would have to be spinning awfully fast for them just to sit there and appear at their destintion.

Answer 9

Gravity keeps us where we are. We need a force to be moved from that certain point of where we are. Unless forced somewhere we are going to stay with that certain point. :-)

Answer 10

Basically, that is what you are doing with lift, but you must also have forward momentum to maintain that.