Brainteaser Options

[james]

Here's a question for you:

"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?"

A couple of links discussing it (and some funny rationalizations for peoples incorrect assumptions):
www.kottke.org/06/02/plane-conveyor-belt
www.straightdope.com/columns/060203.html

[Emily]

I am ment to know the answer to this question having discussed it with james but i am still unsure.

what you are suggesting would have to mean that the plane is not in contact with the ground at all, the plane cannot move foward via the wheels as they have been forced to stay in one plane (lets all agree on that) so what is forcing the plane to move faster than the convayer? for this is what has to happen, there has to be some motion for the air to pass under the wings! as its not motion from the plane moving along the ground as normal, what is it. The engine cannot move the plane faster than the conveyer, as gravity and the weight of the plane for it onto its wheels. are you suggesting that the engine counteracts the 1G created by gravity?
so if the wheels are counteracted by the conveyer you are suggesting that i plane can take of from standstill, on its belly without rubbing alone the ground?.

but to be honest with you if this where possible i am sure they would not have had to create harriors



and i dont agree with the matchbox thing

the matchbox thing doesn't work as your arm is counteracting the weight of the car and the gravities force as well as creating motion