Can a Plane on a Treadmill Take Off?

Not true. The original problem statement was 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.)

I restated it, but either version clearly implies that the airplane must be
moving for the conveyor to be moving. Sure if the plane isn't moving, it
won't take off. But if the conveyor is moving, the plane must be moving in
the opposite direction, because that's what the problem says. The problem
never said that the conveyor somehow moves in a way that cancels the plane's
forward motion.

As many have stated, unless the pilot is applying the brakes, so that there
is friction between the wheels and the belt, the movement of the conveyor
has nothing to do with the speed of the plane. All the problem says is that
the conveyor is moving in the opposite direction at the same speed as the
plane.
--
Bob (Chief Pilot, White Knuckle Airways)


"Peter Duniho" wrote in message
...
"Bob Chilcoat" wrote in message
...
On the contrary, the problem clearly states that the conveyor is moving
at the speed that the plane is moving (but in the opposite direction).

The statement "the conveyor is moving at the speed that the plane is
moving" (the one you say the problem states) is a very different statement
from "which always reduces the plane's forward movement to zero" (the
statement Thomas responded to).

How is your post contrary to Thomas'?

Pete