cjcampbell wrote:
Saw this question on "The Straight Dope" and I thought it was amusing.

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/060203.html

The question goes like this:

"An airplane on a runway sits on a conveyer belt that moves in the
opposite direction at exactly the speed that the airplane is moving
forward. Does the airplane take off?" (Assuming the tires hold out, of
course.)

Cecil Adams (world's smartest human being) says that it will take off
normally.

The plane will take off because:

For example, a 1000ft conveyer belt lays on a runway.
The plane is placed on this conveyer belt.
Engine is started and full throttle applied.
The plane will move forward and the belt back at the same speed as the
plane.
After 1000ft the belt has moved back enough so the plane thumps on the
runway, starts its take-off roll and takes off.

-Kees

P.S. I'm not serious.