Can A Plane Take Off On A Treadmill?
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From: San Diego, Wess-Side!!
Originally Posted by Neutered Sputniks,Feb 13 2008, 07:42 PM
Once the friction between the wheels/treadmill and friction between the axles/wheels is overcome, yes. I never said it couldn't 
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From: Longmont, CO
Originally Posted by Neutered Sputniks,Feb 10 2008, 04:39 AM
Wow....lol, there are some physics geniuses in here
It all depends on the airplane's ground speed, not wheel speed. Once the airplane has achieved a high enough ground speed for the wings to produce enough lift to overcome the force of gravity acting on the airplane (it's weight).
If you set an airplane on a treadmill and adjust the treadmill to 10MPH and feather the airplane's engine to only provide enough thrust to move it's wheels at 10MPH, it won't take off as the ground speed of the aircraft is 0 knots and no lift will be produced.
If you set an airplane on a treadmill and adjust the treadmill to 10MPH and feather the airplane's engine to only provide enough thrust to move it's wheels at 11MPH, depending on the weight of the aircraft and the amount of lift the wings can provide in that 1MPH, it could or could not take off. 1MPH ground speed (I'm not interested in calculating the knots for that right now).
What's important is not who's right about it taking off or not, but that you understand why it can/cannot do so.
It all depends on the airplane's ground speed, not wheel speed. Once the airplane has achieved a high enough ground speed for the wings to produce enough lift to overcome the force of gravity acting on the airplane (it's weight).
If you set an airplane on a treadmill and adjust the treadmill to 10MPH and feather the airplane's engine to only provide enough thrust to move it's wheels at 10MPH, it won't take off as the ground speed of the aircraft is 0 knots and no lift will be produced.
If you set an airplane on a treadmill and adjust the treadmill to 10MPH and feather the airplane's engine to only provide enough thrust to move it's wheels at 11MPH, depending on the weight of the aircraft and the amount of lift the wings can provide in that 1MPH, it could or could not take off. 1MPH ground speed (I'm not interested in calculating the knots for that right now).
What's important is not who's right about it taking off or not, but that you understand why it can/cannot do so.
Your post implies that you think if the treadmill is moving at 600 mph, and the engines are providing enough thrust for 500 mph, the plane will be moving backwards at 100 mph. Is that true?
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From: Miami, Florida
Originally Posted by ToEnvy,Feb 14 2008, 10:49 AM
Move over plane on a treadmill.... Let's try this one lol.
This thread drove me nuts, so without giving it ANY amount of thought, I'm just going to say no.
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Originally Posted by Elistan,Feb 14 2008, 10:34 AM
Hmm. Here's your first post. Our issue with it is you misunderstand the implications of the egines providing just enough trust to move the plane at 10 mph. Set the treadmill to 10 mph, and feather the engines to "turn the wheels" at 10 mph, and the entire plane will move forward at 10 mph, not 0 mph as you claim. Thereby giving a speed relative to the treadmill of 20 mph.
Your post implies that you think if the treadmill is moving at 600 mph, and the engines are providing enough thrust for 500 mph, the plane will be moving backwards at 100 mph. Is that true?
Your post implies that you think if the treadmill is moving at 600 mph, and the engines are providing enough thrust for 500 mph, the plane will be moving backwards at 100 mph. Is that true?
There's a difference, and that's where everyone got all upset.
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From: Goleta, CA
The speed of the jet won't change after liftoff because the treadmill has nothing to do with the jet.
Mitsukillin is correct in saying the plane will not move in the perfect world if there is no external force is provided (no thrust). But as soon as thrust is added, the plane will move forward.
The main confusion seems to be that the treadmill will affect the plane's take off. The plane will take off just the same on the treadmill as on a conventional runway. Once you realize that the wheels of the plane will spin at the speed of the treadmill plus the forward motion then you should get this.
Mitsukillin is correct in saying the plane will not move in the perfect world if there is no external force is provided (no thrust). But as soon as thrust is added, the plane will move forward.
The main confusion seems to be that the treadmill will affect the plane's take off. The plane will take off just the same on the treadmill as on a conventional runway. Once you realize that the wheels of the plane will spin at the speed of the treadmill plus the forward motion then you should get this.