Does it draw a line?
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Longmont, CO
Originally Posted by s2kvince,Sep 29 2009, 09:00 PM
The earth is rotating at a given speed along with everything on it (for a given latitude). The atmosphere is rotating along with the Earth at the same speed. What force is going to act upon you to slow you down with respect to the Earth?
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From: Brit in Athens, Greece
The hovercraft is standing still according to the original premise. Only if it drops its plumb bob from a spot outside the atmosphere will it draw a line, as in outer space the hovercraft is not subjected to the inertial force of earths rotation. Basically, if the hovercraft always existed on Earth it draws a dot, if the hovercraft was somehow instantly teleported from somewhere in outer space, then it draws a line at the rate of the Earth's rotation.
Anything that is created or at any point stands still, on the earths surface, adopts the earth's inertia, that's why we appear to be standing still and don't have to lean into the earths rotation to avoid falling over.
Here's a better one, and also relevant to the original premise... If you were teleported from outer space to a point on the planet's surface, would it be the same as placing a GI Joe on a treadmill running at 1000mph?
The answer is yes, as the object from outer space has not adopted any inertia from the earth's rotation. It would be like going from a dead stop to 1000mph. Excuse my laymans terms, I have not studied physics, just have a strong interest in the mechanics of the universe.
Anything that is created or at any point stands still, on the earths surface, adopts the earth's inertia, that's why we appear to be standing still and don't have to lean into the earths rotation to avoid falling over.
Here's a better one, and also relevant to the original premise... If you were teleported from outer space to a point on the planet's surface, would it be the same as placing a GI Joe on a treadmill running at 1000mph?
The answer is yes, as the object from outer space has not adopted any inertia from the earth's rotation. It would be like going from a dead stop to 1000mph. Excuse my laymans terms, I have not studied physics, just have a strong interest in the mechanics of the universe.
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From: Round Town, IL
I cant believe how much hoopla it caused. I think its just the way the question was asked because I didnt get it at first. I thought they were asking if the motion of the belt of the treadmill would make the plane take off, and thats where alot of people got confused
