Stupid question, but just curious.
2007-06-15 23:13:07 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Your question is more difficult than you might think.
It depends on the direction that it is going.
If the plane is increasing in altitude on its path, then it eventually would leave the earths orbit. (Given that it had a means to propel itself without air.)
If the plane was flying at a constant altitude, what that really means is that it is just getting enough lift to keep it from falling back to the earth. So given enough fuel it would just stay so many feet away from the earth.
2007-06-15 23:19:15 · answer #1 · answered by lovingdaddyof2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can see why you'd think so, but the fact of the matter is that an object must maintain about 3,500MPH to escape the Earth's gravity. A plane cannot even get close to that so as the air under the wings began to thin out, the plane would stall as it lost airspeed and plummet into the ground like a dart!
splat
2007-06-16 06:17:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is something called altitude that all planes use, a certain level from the ground, so to speak.
So... No!, it will not wade its way out of earth, because the plane will continue to stay at a constant altitude during the course of it's trip.
2007-06-16 06:18:19 · answer #3 · answered by Dr. W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Theoretically yes (it will behave like a rocket) but practically no, since the plane needs air to keep flying and as it reaches the rarified atmosphere at higher altitudes, the lift provided by air under its wings comes down and the plane stops climbing and will reach lower levels.
2007-06-16 06:25:42 · answer #4 · answered by Swamy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no because the gravity keeps the plane going round the earth. if the plane could go fast enougth than yeah if it can withstand the pressure
2007-06-16 06:46:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"but the fact of the matter is that an object must maintain about 3,500MPH to escape the Earth's gravity."
More like 17,000 to orbit... 25,000 mph to escape (that's what Apollo did to go to the moon)
The X-15 did 7,274 km/h in 1967 (about 4500 mph)
13 flights met the criteria for space flight.
2007-06-16 06:31:20 · answer #6 · answered by Holden 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer is no, planes dont have enough thrust to reach outerspace. I'm no major in physical science but.. No.
2007-06-16 06:21:06 · answer #7 · answered by Alex Savager 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋