OK, question for you guys. [Archive]

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Master of Faster

11-29-2005, 12:18 AM

I was bored surfing another sled forum and stumbled across this question. Now to me, the answer is very easy, but I was absolutely amazed at the amount of debate about the answer, hilarious. So here it is, what's your opinion.

Imagine a plane is sat on the beginning of a massive conveyor belt/travelator type arrangement, as wide and as long as a runway, and intends to take off. The conveyer belt is designed to exactly match the speed of the wheels at any given time, moving in the opposite direction of rotation.
There is no wind.

Can the plane take off?

And don't be afraid to state your case, there are 14 pages of debate on this question on another forum, so if you're not correct you're not alone.

samiralfey

11-29-2005, 04:32 AM

No, it can't.

mark the shark

11-29-2005, 05:00 AM

That's a very interesting question, and I've been thinking about it for awhile.
Lift is generated by airflow on the wings. If the plane cannot move forward, there isn't going to be any airflow and the plane cannot take off. I think the only plane that would have a chance would be one with propellors in front of the wings that would make airflow, but probably not enough to lift it off the ground. I'll say no, it cannot take off.
Shark

Ike

11-29-2005, 06:10 AM

I'll say no, it cannot take off.Shark

:agree:

Ike

VMax4ever

11-29-2005, 07:18 AM

The plane will not take off.

Master of Faster

11-29-2005, 11:33 AM

Mark is correct in that it takes airflow to create lift. The air must take a longer path above the wing than below it, causing the air above to be sped up and causing low pressure above the wing, lift.

Now, the thing is, airplanes are propelled by jet engine or propeller, both of which create thrust by moving air. Every action has an equal but opposite reaction, blah blah blah

The wheels of an airplane nor the ground below it have any affect on the planes ability to thrust itself forward. The wheels would spin faster and faster exponentially but the plane would still travel on its merry way.

The Plane WILL take off, probably to the detriment of the wheel bearings :)

I just thought it was funny that there was so much debate on this on the other site, it just seems like everybody always sees wheels as being the driving force behind a vehicle.

There's everybodys brain twister for the day, lol :tease: :frech32:

4with4

11-29-2005, 12:47 PM

I wrote what's below before I read MOF's last post. Sorry if it sounds like I'm repeating what he said.
Guys, don't make things any harder than they are. The moving runway is just affecting the wheels. The wheels on an aircraft are just idler wheels. The engines, whether they are jet, turbo prop, or piston engine are what provide the thrust. The plane will take off just fine. The wheels will be spinning twice as fast as the plane is moving in actual ground speed and that may cause an increase in bearing friction for the engines to overcome but the plane will still achieve flight.

Ian

vmax4sean

11-29-2005, 04:04 PM

Well, the plane will move.. Doesen't really matter, just as long as the wheels are spinning.. And no brakes are on.. It will start moving... Take an R.c Jet and try it

Wait.. If the brakes are on, which way is it going?

AL P

11-29-2005, 04:15 PM

14 pages of debate on this? LOL

Master of Faster

11-29-2005, 05:23 PM

Ya 14 pages, I know. Its in the general talk section on hardcoresledder, under "Whos the next mythbuster?" or something like that. Some of the guys SWORE that the plane wouldn't move, and it turned into a lot of name calling BS, but still funny none the less.

AL P

11-29-2005, 05:56 PM

Have they considered what makes the plane "move" when its in the air, and the tires are not even touching anything? LOL

Of cousre it would take off. the only thing that would happen would be a "slight" increase in resistence caused by the wheels haveing to spin much faster. but it would`nt stop the plane from accelarating forward, and reaching lift speed.

Master of Faster

11-29-2005, 06:30 PM

You got it, and I read through a few pages and it was explained by a few guys very well, but some of the other guys just don't get it or refuse to give in, after about 5 pages its just turned into a "your stupid... ...no, your stupid!" post LOL

OK, its at 25 pages now! And yes, on page 25 they're still arguing, lol.

http://www.hardcoresledder.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=109875

Ike

11-30-2005, 12:32 AM

Yep! You got me on this one. I must have been sleeping some of classes at school... LOL

Ike:frech11:

vmax4sean

11-30-2005, 06:29 AM