Mythbusters plan to uncover plane on conveyor belt

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PedroJack07
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1:26p, 10/25/07
AG
When does airspeed differ from groundspeed??? If the airspeed is 1MPH, are the wheels not also going 1MPH? So the conveyor is also going 1MPH in the opposite direction and the plane is not going anywhere?

At some point, in order for it to fly as you all say it will... the airspeed will not equal the speed of the wheels? When is that point?
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Husky Boy Jr.
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1:28p, 10/25/07
AG
Only in:




Would this work.
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MoralityPlay
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1:29p, 10/25/07
Wow. This thread is great.

And proof that to graduate from college, you should have to take more rigorous physics courses. It's appalling that so many people insist the plane won't take off.
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Husky Boy Jr.
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1:30p, 10/25/07
AG
Physics is for people who don't have "street smarts".
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superunknown
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1:36p, 10/25/07
AG
this thread reminds me of the Beavis and Butthead argument...

"no, no Butthead...see, you shrink ME down, and keep my weiner the same size..."
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simplified
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1:43p, 10/25/07
AG
I guess people just can't wrap the concept of an airplane around their heads
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tlepoC
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1:48p, 10/25/07
AG
you don't even have to know physics at all (from a classroom) besides what you learn from living day to day life and paying attention to things around you. I had heard this question first about 3 years ago...before I had taken physics. I knew the answer as I was reading the question.

BTW, Pedro is a complete ****ing moron
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Husky Boy Jr.
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1:50p, 10/25/07
AG
I'm going to look this up when I get home.

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IIIHorn
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1:57p, 10/25/07
Street smarts:

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TexasRebel
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1:57p, 10/25/07
AG
quote:
When does airspeed differ from groundspeed??? If the airspeed is 1MPH, are the wheels not also going 1MPH? So the conveyor is also going 1MPH in the opposite direction and the plane is not going anywhere?


This is a good example of STUPID.

if there is a 3 knot headwind...ground speed can be 0 knots while airspeed is 3 knots...

see?

if the plane is traveling at 10 knots, and the conveyor is going 10 knots in the other direction (matching the groundspeed of the plane), a speed sensor on the wheels would indicate a 20 knot velocity.

in the same situation, if the conveyor is tyring to match the wheel speed, the conveyor would continuously accelerate because while the plane is traveling 10 knots, the conveyor would be traveling -10 knots, giving a wheel speed of 20 knots....which makes the conveyor accelerate to -20 knots...which makes the wheel speed 30 knots...which makes the conveyor accelerate to -30 knots, which makes the wheel speed 40 knots...and so on...this will continue until the force from rolling resistance completely matches the force from the engines...

this point could never be reached, because the wheels of the plane or the conveyor would fail long before the near lightspeed of the conveyor was reached.

It all depends on that one variable...which speed does the conveyor match...
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gambochaman
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2:00p, 10/25/07
AG
lets see if i can break this down enough

in a car: the engine is attached to axle which in turn are attached to wheels. the piston motion makes the axle spin which in turn makes the wheels spin which in turn moves the car


pedro and brian please reply if you understand that

then i will continue

[This message has been edited by gambochaman (edited 10/25/2007 1:01p).]
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krazlys
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2:01p, 10/25/07
If we're talking theoretically I don't think we can assume the conveyor and/or wheels or anything else will fail.
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IIIHorn
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2:01p, 10/25/07
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PedroJack07
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2:01p, 10/25/07
AG
A simple "No, airspeed and groundspeed aren't always the same" would have worked just fine... but I get it now... thanks
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gambochaman
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2:02p, 10/25/07
AG
in an airplane: the wheels are not attached to anything but an almost frictionless axle...they are not attached to the engines...therefore, the plane will still move forward because the conveyor wont move it backward

capice?

[This message has been edited by gambochaman (edited 10/25/2007 1:03p).]
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PedroJack07
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2:03p, 10/25/07
AG
quote:
in the same situation, if the conveyor is tyring to match the wheel speed, the conveyor would continuously accelerate because while the plane is traveling 10 knots, the conveyor would be traveling -10 knots, giving a wheel speed of 20 knots....which makes the conveyor accelerate to -20 knots...which makes the wheel speed 30 knots...which makes the conveyor accelerate to -30 knots, which makes the wheel speed 40 knots...and so on...this will continue until the force from rolling resistance completely matches the force from the engines...

this point could never be reached, because the wheels of the plane or the conveyor would fail long before the near lightspeed of the conveyor was reached.


This is the scenario I picture.. but like you said, it all depends on which speed you are trying to match.
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IIIHorn
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2:05p, 10/25/07
The speed of the conveyor belt is moot.
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gambochaman
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2:06p, 10/25/07
AG
horn

we could delete every other post

and this thread would still be allsome thanks to your posts

hth

hand
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Ag with kids
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2:34p, 10/25/07
AG
OK, now..

But, has anyone taken into consideration whether or not the clutch is in?

quote:
if you are going to blow the chronic you shouldn't post afterward
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IIIHorn
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2:36p, 10/25/07
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gambochaman
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2:37p, 10/25/07
AG
huh
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Ag with kids
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2:38p, 10/25/07
AG
blue balls?

quote:
if you are going to blow the chronic you shouldn't post afterward
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IIIHorn
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2:39p, 10/25/07
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clutch_(eggs)
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Ag with kids
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2:43p, 10/25/07
AG
So...

The clutch IS in...

That changes EVERYTHING!!!!

quote:
if you are going to blow the chronic you shouldn't post afterward
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Husky Boy Jr.
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2:43p, 10/25/07
AG
Friction is moot.
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IIIHorn
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2:44p, 10/25/07
Moot, no.

Minimal, yes.
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Husky Boy Jr.
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2:45p, 10/25/07
AG
Wait, what were we talking about?
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ThunderCougarFalconBird
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2:45p, 10/25/07
AG
this thread still sucks.


what happens when the axles on the wheels come under too much friction and cease to roll at the same speed as the airplane? I hope that fatty in a beret is in the pilot seat when the plane get slammed into a wall.
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IIIHorn
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2:46p, 10/25/07


Duelling banjos on an airplane.
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Husky Boy Jr.
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2:47p, 10/25/07
AG
Yep - when the wheels travel at too much of a different speed than the air, the plane will seperate from the wheels.

BOOYAH
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IIIHorn
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2:47p, 10/25/07
TexasRebel
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2:48p, 10/25/07
AG
pilots playing chicken with 747's
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Husky Boy Jr.
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2:51p, 10/25/07
AG
Here is another picture from someone who doesn't understand REALITY.


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Husky Boy Jr.
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2:52p, 10/25/07
AG
There aren't enough rollers on his treadmill. The equation is ruined (moot).
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gambochaman
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2:57p, 10/25/07
 
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