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A plane is sitting on a giant treadmill. At time zero, the plane and the treadmill are both stationary. As the plane tries to take off, the treadmill rotates backwards at the exact same speed that the plane is moving.

Does the plane take off?

2007-12-13 17:18:25 · 5 answers · asked by itsmedannyp 2 in Science & Mathematics Physics

5 answers

Lift is generated by the motion of air under the wings. Unless the treadmill moves a lot of air - no, the plane won't take off.

2007-12-13 17:23:13 · answer #1 · answered by jgoulden 7 · 1 0

Planes do not accelerate by applying force through their wheels (unlike automobiles). Planes accelerate using their engines; the wheels are just there to minimize friction.

A large jetliner, for example, generates several hundred thousand of pounds of thrust during takeoff. The drag due to the tires is a few tens of thousands of pounds. Where is the excess thrust going to go if not to accelerate the plane?

The only way the plane can remain stationary (with respect to the ground) is if all of the thrust of the plane is offset by friction generated by the spinning tires. Any plane is capable of generating a lot more thrust than the drag produced by the tires (or they'd never be able to take off in the first place, obviously). All the treadmill can to do is spin the tires faster and since the coefficient of rolling friction is mostly independent of speed, that's not going to offset enough thrust to keep the plane stationary.

I say the plane takes off.

2007-12-13 19:37:03 · answer #2 · answered by Jeff D 7 · 2 0

Its additionally going to count number what variety of airplane your on. very resembling automobiles, all distinctive planes have distinctive capability to weight ratios and for this reason develop up quicker or slower than others. So in reality your going to sense the G-rigidity extra in some sorts of planes than others. yet another undertaking that contributes to the sensation of the fee is the cabin noise you experience. Planes with below wing engines are generally quieter than planes with fuselage fixed engines, the louder the noise the quicker it variety of feels :) of direction, airplane age will impression the noise it makes aswell. extra contemporary = quieter, older = louder.

2016-12-11 04:16:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

no cause when i am running on the treadmill you don't feel wind. therefore no wind will lift the plane up.

2007-12-13 18:01:14 · answer #4 · answered by M^3 1 · 0 1

wing speed at t = 0 is 0

So NOPE

2007-12-13 17:29:39 · answer #5 · answered by JavaScript_Junkie 6 · 0 1

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