Mythbusters. Really?

[Aiman]

Can anyone be so ignorant about simple physics that they actually need to 'bust' this myth?

 

"can a plane take off on a conveyor belt"

 

[mfryer]

Can anyone be so ignorant about simple physics that they actually need to 'bust' this myth?

 

"can a plane take off on a conveyor belt"

 

Perhaps you could elaborate?????

[Aiman]

Oh... the myth is "can an airplane take off while rolling down a conveyor belt"

 

basically.. stick a plane on a conveyor... see if it will fly.

 

EDIT: It's on Discovery channel right now (eastern time)

[macleodm3]

Huh? Why could it not?

[CBarber]

Hey, HEY!!! whatch the spoilers. I have this episode "Tivo'ed" waiting for the oportunity to watch it. I don't really care about complete scientific method....well, to a point. It is too damn fun to watch Jamie and Adam make good attemps. I feel like I am right there with 'em and just having fun with the process.

 

I am really wanting to watch this episode since it is so plane focused. FWIW

 

All the best,

 

Chris

[Phil Kriley]

The controversy really depends on how the myth is stated. Some feel that the question is:

 

If a plane is on a converyor belt that matches the speed OF THE AIRPLANES'S WHEELS, but in the opposite direction, will the plane takeoff?

 

The other way (the CORRECT way, IMHO) is:

 

If a plane is on a conveyor belt that matches the PLANE'S FORWARD SPEED, but in the opposite direction, will the airplane take off?

 

Stated the first way, there is no possible way to make the conveyor match the rotational speed of the wheels, so it really doesn't make a lot of sense, but that's the way a lot of folks interpret the problem, and hense conclude that the plane will not fly.

 

Mythbusters took the second (correct) question, and busted it.

[mfryer]

I saw the episode. I agree the question was quite silly. What really surprised me was that the ultra-lite pilot was expecting a different result!