Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
Friday Puzzler -- airplane
Alex Y
Another thought experiment--this one not testable in the real world
If a runway is built as a giant treadmill, with a speed controller that exactly matches the runway to the speed of, but in the opposite direction to, a plane trying to take off, what effect will it have on the plane?
Re: Friday Puzzler -- airplane
john Veerkamp
first thoughts, wind turbulence all be difficult to calculate.
True
Alex Y
You are thinking a little more deeply than the puzzle's author intended 
Re: Friday Puzzler -- airplane
Ed in Leaside
The ground support devices will spin twice as fast
Re: Friday Puzzler -- airplane
Chuck Jones - West TN
I agree. The wheels will be very confused, but barring some minor friction issues it wouldn't matter one bit.
Correct!
Alex Y
As you noted. a plane's motion while taking off is properly considered with respect to the air, not the ground. John raises the valid point that if there ever were such a runway built, it would probably create air currents and turbulence that would affect the real world plane, but you nailed it for the puzzle.
