Oh Boy...
So I haven't updated the site lately because, well, I just didn't feel like it.
Anyway, here I am reading this article about an airplane on a treadmill, and it gets me afraid that some of these folks will undoubtedly be in positions of power in the future. Read on and you'll understand why.
I won't tell you my opinion on this because I don't want to lean your decision one way or the either, but if you're a smart person like I am, you'll know where I stand.
Here's one for you all...
"John's mom has three sons, Nickel, Dime, and who? What is the name of the third son?"
Comment your answers.
Anyway, here I am reading this article about an airplane on a treadmill, and it gets me afraid that some of these folks will undoubtedly be in positions of power in the future. Read on and you'll understand why.
I won't tell you my opinion on this because I don't want to lean your decision one way or the either, but if you're a smart person like I am, you'll know where I stand.
Here's one for you all...
"John's mom has three sons, Nickel, Dime, and who? What is the name of the third son?"
Comment your answers.
posted by Jeff and Shino | 12/13/2006
16 Comments:
Yes, the plane would take off. I am going to build a model air plane a large enough treadmill and post the video on YouTube just to prove it. As for the your second question the name of the third son is John. Did I pass??
Good to see the blog back.
There is no way the plane would take off!
Yes, your John answer is correct.
I think you might be wrong. If the the wheels for the soul contributor in generating the speed in order for the flow of air over the wings to create lift then you would be correct in stating it would not take off. However it is not the wheels but the turbine engines that provide the trust by forcing air through there high velocity turbine. Therefore the plane would take off because the thrust needed is independent of the wheels.
I still think I might have to build a scale model to prove it.
John biaatch.
The plane wouldn't take off because there is no airflow over and under the wings regardless of the thrust.
Your right, without air flow the plane wouldn't take off but the plane will have air flow over its wings because it will be moving with or without the conveyor blet runway.
The plane propels itself forward using air not the surface of the ground below it.
You're wrong Brian. In the description of the problem it states, "The conveyer belt is designed to exactly match the speed of the wheels, moving in the opposite direction."
If that is so, it would be like me running on a treadmill at home. I won't feel wind against my face.
That is so under one conidition that the speed of the conveyor belt would be increased in the opposite direction by so other force. If the belt is free spinning as are the wheels then the plane will still take off.
Think about seaplane trying to take off from water going in the opposite drection. It need only enough thrust to overcome the friction between the water and boat to move forward. The same is true for a sailboat sailing upstream.
even further.... what are the purpose of wheels on a airplane during take off. It is to reduce the friction between the plane and the ground. In theory a plane could take off without wheels but of course the force of friction of the ground scraping on the fuselage would be greater and would therefore require the engines to produce more thrust. Since the conveyor belt works by cancelling out the force applied to it, such as a car, and not the forces such of the thrust of the engine the plane would take off. I suppose it might be possible to hinder the take off if an external force was applied to the conveyor belt. Do you agree?
Yes, but in the seaplane case, the water will not increase in speed to match the planes speed moving forward. However, the treadmill will "match" the speed of the wheels in the opposite direction, keeping the plane stationary.
Keeping with the seaplane example, the speed of the water is irrelevant. Since the only force the plane needs to overcome in order to thrust forward to generate the air flow over the wings to prodce lift is the force of friction between the plane and water. The speed of the water does not matter. As this is independent of the force of friction. You are too consumed with the speed of the conyevor belt that you are not grasping the forces involved and their relation.
I think I might have to break out the physics book and draw it up.
Now I am having second thoughts. I will admit that my initial reaction was no the plane would not take off. I still think it would take off in a completely frictionless environment. In short I am revising my statement for the moment and agree that the way the problem is stated that it will not take off.
Well dang Brian, in a completely frictionless environment, everything would be different.
Dang blizzard! Already 2' of snow drift in the driveway and it's only just started.
68 and sunny in SD. It's a buyers market man, come on back.
Is that 2' feet or 2" inches?
Sorry, not 2'. Now it's about 4-5' (feet).
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