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Jonathan Calvert
Minmatar
Empire Mining and Trade
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Posted - 2008.01.24 19:43:00 -
[1]
Me thinks someone was watching the Exploration Chat last night, as we discussed this very thing. Everyone says at first that the plane doesnt take off because there is no air moving over the wings, but this is because they think that a plane works like a car, that the engine drive the wheels forward and friction against the ground makes it go till it gets enough lift.
OF course, that isnt the case. The wheels on a plane are designed to have as little friction as possible in order to minimize the thrust needed to take off. So if the ground is moving backwards, the wheels spin. If you were to not run the prop and start the ground moving, the plane would actually stay in place and not move because no force is pushing against the fuselage. The wheels would just spin. Once you engage the prop, it pulls the plane forward, resulting in lift.
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Jonathan Calvert
Minmatar
Empire Mining and Trade
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Posted - 2008.01.30 14:47:00 -
[2]
Doesnt anyone have a RC airplane and a treadmill? Look it up on youtube. The plane moves.
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Jonathan Calvert
Minmatar
Empire Mining and Trade
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Posted - 2008.01.31 13:25:00 -
[3]
Everyone watch Mythbusters last night? They tested an RC airplane on a conveyor moving at takeoff speed, and it took off. Then they did the same thing with an ultralight and it took off. Myth...Busted!
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Jonathan Calvert
Minmatar
Empire Mining and Trade
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Posted - 2008.02.01 22:38:00 -
[4]
 Originally by: Catelli
I am perfectly happy to accept that it would take off, but I don't understand why.
I don't know physics, all I do know is that a plane generates lift by using it's engines to propel itself forward, moving air over the wings and letting them do their thing.
If the plane is on a hypothetical (moves-instantly-counteracting-forward-motion-of-the-plane) treadmill, I can't get it out of my head that the contact with the treadmill would stop it moving forwards, preventing air from moving over the wings and thus preventing lift from being generated.
The relationship of the wheels to power to friction don't mean a jot to me, they are just the contact with the ground but it is that contact with the treadmill that I keep thinking stops it from moving forwards.
Why would the plane lift off if no air moved over the wings because there is no forward movement.
I am genuinely interested why - I'm sure this will come up in a pub sometime.
Cheers for your help in helping me understand.
You just told us why, though. The ground does not stop the plane from moving because a plane doesnt use the ground to move. It uses the air.
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