answersLogoWhite

0

Yes, it can take off. Once the plane's engines are providing thrust against the air it will move forward, and all the belt can do is make the (freewheeling) wheels spin faster. As a thought exercise, imagine that the plane is being pulled by a rope rather than pushed by an engine. As long as the rope is pulling it through the air, no matter how fast the conveyor belt spins in the other direction it can't act against the pull of the rope, as the wheels effectively decouple the two. Many people can't see the difference between the plane and a car on the same belt - one moves by acting against the air, the other by acting against the surface of the belt.

User Avatar

Wiki User

16y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Physics

Why is the surface of conveyor belts is made rough?

so nothing will slip


If a plane is traveling at takeoff speed on a conveyor belt and the belt is matching that speed in the opposite direction can the plane take off?

Yup.You're right to note, that the speed of belt is matching the takeoff speed (some trolls forget about speed being relative). So the plane will take off, with it's wheels on the belt spinning twice as usual.((Yes. The logical error that "catches" many people is that they are more familiar with cars than planes. A car exerts its forward force on the ground, like a person does. When you put them on a treadmill travelling backward at the same speed that the object is attempting to move forward, then they are attempting to move against an equally moving medium. This results in a Red Queen scenario and a stationary object.A plane however, does not move forward using its wheels. They are freespinning objects independent of the propulsion system. A plane is exerting its forward force against the AIR, and therefore will move with respect to the air. A plane attempting to lift off on a conveyor belt (no matter the speed of the belt) will do so essentially just as easily as it would had it been running on a standard runway.Mathmatically, this can be expressed by the fact that stationary objects are stationary because the forces are equal on all sides. A pencil resting on a table is exerting its force (as its weight) against the table, and the table is pressing back with equal force. When an object is moving on a surface (like a car or a grounded plane), frictional force is applied to the object resisting the forward motion. To calcuate the magnitude of this resisting force, you must multiply the normal force (the weight of the object), by the coefficient in friction (the calcuated "roughness" of the surface).This leaves no variable for the speed of the surface below it to apply in order to counteract the thrusting force caused by the pushing of the air. This resisting force for the plane will remain essentially the same regardless if it is on a standard runway, a belt moving at 25 mph, or a belt moving at mach 3. As long as the wheels remain intact, the plane will take off. The only physical difference that the plane will experience in this scenario is that the wheels will move twice as fast. Half of the speed are caused by forces that are driving the plane forward, and the other half of the speed are caused by the conveyor belt moving backward.A simple experiment that can prove this is demostrated on youtube at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4owlyCOzDiEIt clearly demostrates that the speed of the belt has no bearing on the aircraft's ability to move. Once the craft overcomes the frictional force that would be present even with a stationary runway, no more force is needed, even as the author of the video ramps up the speed of the treadmill by several factors without compensating with the thrust.Ergo a conveyor belt, matching the plane's speed or not, is completely impotent to hinder the aircraft's ability to take off.))


How long does it take an airplane to get off the ground?

Depends on the aircraft, and the velocity of the air over the wings that produces enough lift to get the aircraft into the air. For aircraft that are STOL capable (Short Take Off and Landing) this time will be short, but ultimately it depends on the wind conditions, and the thrust of the aircraft. VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing) aircraft can take off instantaneously. There are too many variables to give a short answer, as stated above, but as an example, a fully loaded modern day commercial airliner like the Boeing 767-400 might have a take-off run of 9000' to 9500' before the main landing gear actually lifted off the ground.


How fast does a passenger airplane take off?

A passenger airplane typically takes off at a speed of around 150 to 180 knots (170 to 210 mph) depending on the size and type of aircraft. The exact speed can vary depending on factors such as aircraft weight, runway length, and weather conditions.


What type of energy does an airplane taking off have?

An airplane taking off has kinetic energy, which is the energy an object possesses due to its motion. As the airplane accelerates down the runway and gains speed, it builds up kinetic energy that is then used to lift off the ground and continue its flight.

Related Questions

Can an airplane take off while on a conveyor belt?

yes it can. they did it on mythbusters. See related link for more information.


What happens when an airplane is on a conveyor belt?

Well, it matters how big the conveyor belt is...if it's normal factory size, the plane will crush it.....WAIT! What type of plane is it?!?!?! Are you confusing the question with: Can a plane take off on a conveyor belt? If so the answer is yes. See related questions.


What are the use of conveyor belt?

the use of the a conveyor belt is used to transport passengers luggage so that they can collect it when they get off the plane.


If a conveyor belt is moving at 100 mph, and a person is on the conveyor belt and running in the same direction at what would be 20 mph off the belt, how fast is the person going I would appreciate it if a formula and explanation is provided?

The person on the conveyor belt is moving at 120 mph relative to the ground. This is because the person is running at 20 mph relative to the conveyor belt, and the conveyor belt is moving at 100 mph relative to the ground. Therefore, the person's total speed is the speed of the conveyor belt (100 mph) plus the speed of the person relative to the conveyor belt (20 mph), giving a total speed of 120 mph.


Where is the conveyor of the diamond mine on Nabooti Island?

The conveyor belt is the large flat walkway at the top of the ore pile outside the mine. Once you set the timer to turn off the electric fence, run quickly up the ore pile, across the conveyor belt to the right, and down through the hole to the broken fence. (see related question)


When was the first Cadillac sports car produced?

The first Cadillac was rolled off the conveyor belt 65 million years ago.


Where did Shakespeare theater take off?

It was not an airplane, and thus could not take off.


Can you take your phone off airplane mode once the plane has taken off"?

Yes, you can typically take your phone off airplane mode once the plane has taken off.


Is the airplane go slow can it take off?

no it cannot take off if it is going slow


How do you beat factory balls 3 level 2?

blue, thin belt, pink, take off belt, thick belt, blue, take off belt


How do beat level 22 on factory balls 3?

dip ball in blue put | belt on dip in black take off | belt put - belt on dip in orange take off - belt put hat on dip in black take off hat put - belt on hat on dip in orange take both off put | belt on put hat on dip in blue take off both put - belt on and put the hat on to dip in orange take both off and there you go! :)


How long does it take a small airplane to take off?

Usually about a minute.