why are aeroplanes not affected by the earths spin?

Question

if something were to lift off the ground wouldnt it be out of the earths spin? i can understand why people dont fall over when the earth is spinning under them because gravity attaches them to the earth. but what about something that is not continously attached to to the earth like people or cars.

Answer 1

The earth is spinning, but you are spinning with it. When you jump, your inertia carries you along. Therefore the world doesn't rapidly spin under you when you jump up.

There are, however, a couple of subtle pseudoforces caused by the earth's spinning.

One is the centrifugal force, which very very slightly counteracts gravity and causes the earth to be fatter around the equator.

The other is the coriolis force which effects moving objects. Airplanes and missiles and things like that do notice a small course correction from the coriolis force.

Answer 2

Actually aeroplanes are affected by the spinning Earth and are thus helped by GPS and instruments which take the effect of Special Relativity into account. Even though aeroplanes may be very high up, they are well within Earth's gravitational field.

Answer 3

Gravity is not only exerted on to those which are attached on the earth. even moon revolves around the earth cuz of the gravity...

Answer 4

hello gravity is not only exerted on to those which are attached on the earth. even moon revolves around the earth cuz of the gravity

Answer 5

For the same reason that when you throw something straight out the window of a moving vehicle it keeps up with you and appears to move straight away from you in spite of the fact that you and the vehicle are moving forward.

Answer 6

they are, everything is because of conservation of angular momentum. As a simpler example it is impossible for a helicopter to lift off the ground and while hovering "wait" for Paris to pass underneath and then land in Paris.

Answer 7

First of all, who said they are not? That is why they crash! Second, airplanes engines generate enough power to lift the plane into an altitude where the air pressure beneath the plane can hold the plane in the air. Read a little bit about aerodynamics and flying and you'll get it!.

Answer 8

Gravitational forces are invisible but the effects are visible. You cannot see the actual force being applied but you could see the outcome of these forces. Whatever that goes up have to come down is due to gravtiy.