Quote:
Originally posted by BlueSky:


But when the belt is added, the ground under the plane is in effect moving in the opposite direction. Forward movement is no longer the result of applying any kind of propelling force because...why?

The tires are no longer rolling along the stationary ground, they're rotating in place. And since the freewheeling, unpowered wheels they're mounted upon are on an axle attached to the plane, if the tires are not moving forward, neither is the plane.
You're logic is flawed here. The wheels rotating would stop nothing. The thrust provided by the engine is not countered by the conveyor because the air isn't being affected by the conveyor's motion.


The plane would fly IF the belt was a constant speed less than the plane can attain or IF the belt did not speed up as power was applied to the aircraft's engines. In the scenario as presented, the aircraft's tires, mounted on their freewheeling, unpowered wheels, will merely rotate faster [b]in place
as thrust is applied but the plane will not move forward.[/b]

Flawed as well. As long as thrust is greater than friction the plane flys.

The engines are providing an external force outside of the conveyors control. The wheels spinning (as long as they are spinning) would not affect the thrust provided by the engine. As long as thrust > friction.