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

[Doctor]

My brain hurts


I took one look at this and thought; "sounds tricky but the belt has no effect on the plane as the engines are providing thrust and not the wheels."

It seemed so self-evident I didn't even post

I wouldn't mind but I'm the one who's brain is supposed to be addled from years of frying it in various ways. All the young people with young, fully functional brains seem to be having......trouble.

I suggest getting a treadmill, an wheelchair and a fire extinguisher and trying it yourselves.

And filming the result

Just hang on to the wheelchair as you may need it afterwards.