Quote:
Originally posted by XPLORx4:
Can we first arrive at the correct answer to the original scenario, and let the aircraft carrier scenario be moved to its own thread(possibly in the ALR so that zuzuman03 will be happy)?
We did.....it's been stated MANY MANY times....the plane WILL TAKE OFF!

BlueSky, what would it matter if the conveyor belt reaches the speed of the plane? The plane is sitting on a set of wheels that are basically frictionless. That only means that the wheels will be spinning MUCH faster than the plane is actually moving forward. The conveyor has an acting force on the WHEELS, NOT the engine. The only thing that can act against the engine is a headwind pushing against the entire aircraft in the opposite direction and with equal speed to the plane. You people just can't grasp the fact that the wheels and the conveyor DO NOT act against the force of the airplane's engines!! WAKE UP!!!

If the airplane were to be propelled by the wheels, then yes, the plane will in fact NOT take off. BUT...that's ONLY IF it's being propelled by the wheels, and not the engines. :rolleyes: