Will the plane take off?

Sp!ke · 31 Mar 2006 at 20:59

Ok here's one to keep everyone (hopefully) thinking for a little while. Give a reason with your answer though otherwise it's no fun

"A plane is standing on a runway that is made of a large conveyor belt. The plane fires up its engines, but as it moves forward, the conveyor belt senses the speed of the plane's wheels and moves at exactly the same speed in the opposite direction. Can the plane take off?"

Over to you lot..

(Took me ages to work out but I'm a dunce

)

S

Gilly · 31 Mar 2006 at 21:00

Tomsk · 31 Mar 2006 at 21:00

ARRRRRRRRRGH!!!!! :mad:

jamoor · 31 Mar 2006 at 21:00

no because the plane hasnt gained any kinetic energy, which is required to take off?

all the above is a guess

Nozzer · 31 Mar 2006 at 21:00

NO IT WON'T AND CLOSE THE THREAD NOW THANKS

Jokester · 31 Mar 2006 at 21:02

The jet engines propel the aircraft through the air, the wheels have no traction so being on a conveyor belt achieves nothing other than the wheels spinning twice as fast as they would have done.

Jokester

daz · 31 Mar 2006 at 21:02

Won't fly... PROOF:

Fishman · 31 Mar 2006 at 21:02

seeing as a plane requires air to move relative to the wings to provide lift this is really a no brainer

seeing as it will still be moving that is

Berserker · 31 Mar 2006 at 21:03

I think I'll step aside and spectate while this thread grows to 20 pages (again).

Can't remember what I decided last time (but whichever it was, I was wrong).

Actually, yes I can, but I'll not say as it would give away the right answer.

Sp!ke · 31 Mar 2006 at 21:03

Fishman said:
seeing as a plane requires air to move relative to the wings to provide lift this is really a no brainer

You sure?

Chronicle · 31 Mar 2006 at 21:04

What if there was one on a treadmill, with a wind tunnel (somehow)?

_PD_ · 31 Mar 2006 at 21:04

WTF???
Of course it won't! Why does it matter how fast the wheels are moving, it has no air travelling over the wings, so it won't fly!

Sp!ke · 31 Mar 2006 at 21:05

Berserker said:
I think I'll step aside and spectate while this thread grows to 20 pages (again).

Can't remember what I decided last time (but whichever it was, I was wrong).

Damn I didn't see it last time ah well hopefully new to some anyway...

SexyBetty · 31 Mar 2006 at 21:06

Never mind

Fishman · 31 Mar 2006 at 21:06

ok now youve all got me second guessing both ways round

off to go do the weekly shop

Felix Da Housecat · 31 Mar 2006 at 21:06

No it wont fly, as there is no air flowing over the wings

Berserker · 31 Mar 2006 at 21:07

See edit.

Of course, I'm not the only Don around here, so someone else might make a different decision and put some people out of their collective misery.

Treefrog · 31 Mar 2006 at 21:08

:/

/grabs popcorn, sits back.

G-MAN2004 · 31 Mar 2006 at 21:08

daz said:
Won't fly... PROOF:

Lol,

Belmit · 31 Mar 2006 at 21:09

Ack... choking... on my own rage. Yes, it will! Jokester has already said why.

The wheels are free-wheeling, so a conveyer belt will just make the wheels spin in the opposite direction. The plane will move forward via the propulsion of the engines as if it was on a standard runway, and take off.

Will the plane take off?

Man of Honour