Physics Puzzle
- Thread starter Softus
- Start date
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V
vinty
The plane should take off because the wheels are free rolling and the rearward force of the conveyor is counteracted by the bearings in the wheels. It doesnt matter how fast the conveyor goes because the plane itself is not in contact with it.
the question you write describes an impossible situation.
IF the conveyor and the aircraft wheels are moving in equal and opposite directions, the craft must be immobile.
However if it is immobile the wheels and the belt have no reason to move since the aircraft (unlike most wheeled vehicles) does not apply traction to the wheels.
A faulty question cannot have a correct answer.
This is getting silly. 
Xerxes gave us the answer many posts back. The plane is driven by its engines, not its wheels. The only effect of the conveyor belt will be to increase the drag of the wheels and so the pilot will need a little more thrust than usual.
There is however one paradox in the original question:
As the conveyor speeds up to match the wheel speed as stated, the wheels go even faster. This is a runaway runway! If you try to do this the wheels will eventually disintegrate but, unless a piece of wheel smashes into an engine, the plane will take off anyway.
Xerxes gave us the answer many posts back. The plane is driven by its engines, not its wheels. The only effect of the conveyor belt will be to increase the drag of the wheels and so the pilot will need a little more thrust than usual. There is however one paradox in the original question:
Softus said:
As the conveyor speeds up to match the wheel speed as stated, the wheels go even faster. This is a runaway runway!
If you try to do this the wheels will eventually disintegrate but, unless a piece of wheel smashes into an engine, the plane will take off anyway. Can you be sure??This is getting silly.
There is however one paradox in the original question:
Softus said:
As the conveyor speeds up to match the wheel speed as stated, the wheels go even faster. This is a runaway runway!
This topics been going a bit longer than when xerses got involved. going round and round in circles can continue indefinitely, but does not turn a nonsense question into a sensible one.Can you be sure??
The Plane will not take off.
A wing is shaped so that the airflow speeds up over its upper surface. This results in a lower static pressure above the wing than below it and so a lifting force is created.
No air flow, plane go nowhere.
A wing is shaped so that the airflow speeds up over its upper surface. This results in a lower static pressure above the wing than below it and so a lifting force is created.
No air flow, plane go nowhere.
Nonsense??going round and round in circles can continue indefinitely, but does not turn a nonsense question into a sensible one.Can you be sure??
Oh well I suppose you have a point.
doitall said:
I agree
but ---Although this is perfectly true, there WILL be airflow when the planes engines start pushing it forwards. Thats how planes work.
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