Quote:
Originally posted by Rockaholic:
Here's another one to ponder

An airplane is on an infinately long Aircraft carrier. As this airplane attempts to take off in one direction, the aircraft carrier moves in the exact same speed in the opposite direction (so that the plane appears to be staying in the same spot to a impartial observer who is not on the aircraft carrier)....

Does the plane take off?
Given calm winds, no. The plane does not take off. It will be at the same point relative to the air surrounding it, and thereby have attained a net of zero airspeed. However, the proposed scenario is even more unlikely than the conveyor the size of a runway. An aircraft carrier achieving speeds at which an aircraft could obtain lift would take such immense power as to be just about unthinkable. Besides which, the resulting movement of the flight deck would preclude a safe launch. But I'm just spitballin here.