because the earth is spinning would this helicopter be in a different place after 12 hours?
2007-04-10 02:21:38 · 18 answers · asked by h_moinian1981 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
It would probaly run out of gas....
2007-04-10 02:24:27 · answer #1 · answered by Luis 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
As well said above, the helicopter would be "at the same place", as it moves with the atmosphere and the atmosphere moves with the Earth (neglecting drift).
HOWEVER, assuming that:
1. Atmosphere has no drag and moves with Earth
2. There is enough fuel.
3. It is not flying too high.
THEN:
The helicopter will crash anyway!
Why?
Because the rotating blades create a vortex below the helicopter. As the air starts rotating underneath, getting closer to the rotation speed of the blades, the LIFT force on the blades decreases. It is the same as if the blades DID NOT rotate. Hence, the crash (well, the fall).
A hovering chopper does NOT stay in the same place: it has to move a bit to prevent the column of air to form a vortex.
The lower the chopper, the higher the risk.
2007-04-12 00:18:42 · answer #2 · answered by just "JR" 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's like a fly in your car hovering over your head. You may be going 70 mph and travel a hundred miles but the fly will still be over your head.
Same principle here. The helicopter would be hovering over the same spot on earth, although earth will have moved a bit more around the sun and maybe the sun has moved a bit in its place in the universe.
The major noticeable differences would be after the 12 hours were up, the pilots would be in the same place, but have to go to the bathroom.
2007-04-10 11:00:54 · answer #3 · answered by rann_georgia 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The helicopter cannot move independent of the earth. It's altitude is too low, and the gravitational effect is too strong. It's motion is strictly relative to the earth. So it must rotate with the earth, but relative to the earth it does not move.
If any aircraft could move independent of the earth, then it would take 4 hours for a plane to fly from NY to London, because all it would have to do is hover and the earth will rotate under it until London is under the plane. But that can't happen. A plane takes 7 or 8 hours to make the journey because its motion is strictly relative to the earth.
2007-04-10 02:43:57 · answer #4 · answered by Dr D 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NOTHING.
A helicopter hovering in the same location would not consume any more fuel if it were over the equator than if it was over a pole:
A helicopter, or any aircraft for that matter, moves in the air, which is CARRIED ALONG WITH THE EARTH'S ROTATION. The atmosphere rotates along with the earth, so the path that affords the _least resistance_ for the helicopter is to moving along with the atmosphere, (it doesn't seem like it's moving, but that's one of the reasons WHY it's the path of least resistance.)
To be fair, the atmosphere does not PRECISELY rotate along with the earth. It gets dragged along, for the most part, but the friction of the atmosphere against the surface as well as against itself creates wind currents - jet stream, gulf stream, etc... I'm assuming in your question there is no wind.
2007-04-10 02:46:51 · answer #5 · answered by Garrett J 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're asking about motion relative to surface versus motion relative to something beyond our planet. At the north pole, the helicopter would be motionless relative to the orbit of earth, and would use least energy. At equator, the same would be nearly impossible, because the 'chopper would need to fly fast to keep up with the sun. If it could, the sun would appear to stand still, and the helicopter would end up on the opposite side of the planet.
Yes, it would be in a different place, 99 34/100% of the time.
2007-04-10 02:29:14 · answer #6 · answered by A Guy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the helicopter will stay in the same place...what you want is only achievable if you go high up out of earth's atmosphere and stay there for 12 hours then if you were in the U.S before the departure you'll be in china. but i dont think a helicopter can leave earth's atmosphere anyways
2007-04-10 03:09:30 · answer #7 · answered by xxxshamsixxx 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Provided it has the required fuel source and endurance, you can find it in the same spot after any number of hours. The reason is that the atmosphere in which the helicopter hovers has the same rotational velocity as the earth.
2007-04-10 02:40:25 · answer #8 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, the Earth is spinning around it's axis, and it is orbiting the Sun, and the Sun is moving along with the Orion arm of the Milky Way Galaxy....wich is moving along through the ever expanding Universe.
So, not only is >It< in a different place in 12 hours, it is/was in a different place every second.....and so is everything....and Everyone.
T.S.
2007-04-10 02:31:22 · answer #9 · answered by electronic_dad 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing happens, it stays in the same position its hovering because it is carried along with the Earth's rotation. And no helicopter could carry enough fuel to stay airborne for 12 hours.
2016-05-21 05:30:57 · answer #10 · answered by abbie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WELL BEFORE 12 hours passed, the pilot would get a 'Low Fuel' warning and have to land. Otherwise, it will spiral to earth and crash.
(The crash may not be fatal, because the fall would, due to the air acting on the blades, keep the rotor rotating slowly and, hopefully cushion the fall).
2007-04-10 03:13:03 · answer #11 · answered by Norrie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋