Physics Brain Teaser

January 30th, 2008 omo

And thus the quote:

Here’s the original problem essentially as it was posed to us: “A plane is standing on a runway that can move (some sort of band conveyer). The plane moves in one direction, while the conveyer moves in the opposite direction. This conveyer has a control system that tracks the plane speed and tunes the speed of the conveyer to be exactly the same (but in the opposite direction). Can the plane take off?”

What do you think?

I know what will happen. If you entertain the two possible choices and remain undecided, may I remind you that a pound of feathers weight as much as a pound of bricks, and one plus one is still equal to two. But fret not, because the question is poorly worded and is probably designed so. It also is necessary to understand how a typical airplane function during takeoff, as it is not like a car.

Today’s Mythbuster will explore this question experimentally, and I hope they reach the right theoretical result.

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