Quote:
Originally posted by NY Madman:
Quote:
Originally posted by MattyX:

[b]Dude, you don't have to publish the results of the balsa plane test. There's no Nobel for re-proving basic physics. You're saying it's bad science because it isn't measured first?
I'm saying it is a bad scientific experiment to use as proof of the hypothetical scenario in this discussion of the aircraft and the conveyor belt.

With the way you are proposing the balsa wood plane experiment, you are moving away and beyond the conditions set in the original hypothetical scenario.

You keep forgetting that in the original scenario the conveyor matches the aircraft's speed. Without the numerous calculations I mentioned in my earlier post you are not duplicating the conditions for the hypothetical scenario by just spinning any rubber band plane over any treadmill.[/b]
So if the conveyor/treadmill had greater speed to begin with and the balsa plane still took off, the result would somehow be different if you could make the treadmill accelerate at the same rate as the plane?

I don't know how fast traditional treadmills go, but I'm fairly sure balsa planes cannot go faster than 10 MPH (being generous to the plane). So supe up a treadmill, set it for 20 MPH, and try it again. I guarantee you the balsa plane would take off.