Quote:
Originally posted by Mobycat:
Quote:
Originally posted by MattyX:
[b]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.
DING DING DING!!!

That's the EXACT same scenario as the conveyor belt![/b]
BZZZZZZ! Sorry, you are incorrect. The scenario is not the same. Examine, if you will, scenario #1:
Quote:
A plane is standing on a runway that can move (like a giant conveyor
belt). This conveyor has a control system that tracks the plane's
speed and tunes the speed of the conveyor to be exactly the same (but
in the opposite direction).

Will the plane be able to take off?
Nothing in this scenario says that the plane must remain stationary. In fact, it states with certainty that the plane must move (otherwise no speed at all. Now for scenario #2:
Quote:
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 the stipulation that the aircraft remains in the same point in space (as was described in the parenthesis in the above quote), no airspeed at all could be generated, except what was necessary to counterract the minimal friction of the flight deck under the wheels. If the carrier and plane were free to move to any point in space, yet the only stipulation being that their speed must be equal in opposite directions, the aircraft would still take off.