# Have you asked anyone the plane/conveyor question **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [January 26, 2008, 5:06pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/have-you-asked-anyone-the-plane-conveyor-question/42490 "2008-01-26T17:06:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tpgsr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/tpgsr/32/7374_2.png) [@tpgsr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/tpgsr)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 10:59pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/have-you-asked-anyone-the-plane-conveyor-question/42490/21 "2008-01-26T22:59:33Z")
I have asked engineers, quality, operations and even my management team. Most all of them disappointed me with their answers. A handful disappointed me even more by arguing after i explained the physics behind the question. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Russian](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/the_russian/32/7414_2.png) [@The\_Russian](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/The_Russian)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 8:22am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/have-you-asked-anyone-the-plane-conveyor-question/42490/22 "2008-01-27T08:22:59Z")
Its going to be my interview question when I get into management, along with why are manhole covers round. ---
**Author:** ![Paulo](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/paulo/32/7328_2.png) [@Paulo](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Paulo)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 8:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/have-you-asked-anyone-the-plane-conveyor-question/42490/23 "2008-01-27T08:32:06Z")
> [@tpgsr](#): > > I have asked engineers, quality, operations and even my management team. Most all of them disappointed me with their answers. A handful disappointed me even more by arguing after i explained the physics behind the question. god that’s the worse part about it. When people get so heated and argue something they clearly don’t understand. ---
**Author:** ![Bacon](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bacon/32/7230_2.png) [@Bacon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bacon)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 9:40am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/have-you-asked-anyone-the-plane-conveyor-question/42490/24 "2008-01-27T09:40:31Z")
Conveyor belts can’t fly. /thread ---
**Author:** ![somedude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@somedude](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/somedude)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 2:39pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/have-you-asked-anyone-the-plane-conveyor-question/42490/25 "2008-01-27T14:39:33Z")
> [@FuzzyFish](#): > > Conveyor belts can’t fly. /thread +1 - a tradmills movement can’t affect a plane at all beacuse the wheels are freerolling once the brakes are released… You guys do realize that they release the brakes to take off right? ---
**Author:** ![66impalass](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/66impalass/32/7429_2.png) [@66impalass](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/66impalass)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 3:09pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/have-you-asked-anyone-the-plane-conveyor-question/42490/26 "2008-01-27T15:09:12Z")
> [@sedlmeier101](#): > > It wouldn’t take off. The plane would not be able to make forward momentum to create lift. > DUH. > > Even though the wheels aren’t driven they still need to be moving forward to allow the plane to move forward…unless the plane could hover > [@llink78](#): > > well your the one who is boggling everyones minds, bc there is no way it can take off without air passing under and over the wings to lift the plain… now if it was in a wind tunnel then yes it would. > [@sedlmeier101](#): > > So, the plane would lift off the treadmill doing 0 mph then accelerate? please die :deadhorse: ---
**Author:** ![IROC-Z](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/iroc-z/32/7389_2.png) [@IROC-Z](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/IROC-Z)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 3:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/have-you-asked-anyone-the-plane-conveyor-question/42490/27 "2008-01-27T15:10:26Z")
I mentioned it at work. Wasn’t the best idea. I think I’ll do it again monday. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![HotRodKid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/hotrodkid/32/7609_2.png) [@HotRodKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/HotRodKid)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 5:01pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/have-you-asked-anyone-the-plane-conveyor-question/42490/28 "2008-01-27T17:01:08Z")
^^^ im gonna bring it back up again too, lol ---
**Author:** ![93dx\_hatch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/90ced4/32.png) [@93dx\_hatch](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/93dx_hatch)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 5:38pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/have-you-asked-anyone-the-plane-conveyor-question/42490/29 "2008-01-27T17:38:28Z")
I mentioned it at work and the office genius tries to school me about the Bernoulli effect, and how it won’t take off :bloated: ---
**Author:** ![snowracer101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@snowracer101](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/snowracer101)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/have-you-asked-anyone-the-plane-conveyor-question/42490/30 "2008-01-27T17:48:50Z")
> [@66impalass](#): > > please die :deadhorse: It’s funny how many people get pissed off when you disagree. Anyone with half a brain would know it will take off. ---
**Author:** ![ultradriver10000](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ultradriver10000/32/7397_2.png) [@ultradriver10000](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ultradriver10000)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 9:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/have-you-asked-anyone-the-plane-conveyor-question/42490/31 "2008-01-27T21:43:43Z")
I think its on mythbusters this Wednesday at 9. I also asked a engineer I work with who said it wouldn’t take off. I punched him in the balls. ---
**Author:** ![ILCisDEAD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a87d85/32.png) [@ILCisDEAD](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ILCisDEAD)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2008, 9:47pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/have-you-asked-anyone-the-plane-conveyor-question/42490/32 "2008-01-27T21:47:58Z")
I don’t even understand how this is a question… the treadmill doesn’t mean anything when air speed is all that matters ---
**Author:** ![Clean\_Baldy](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/clean_baldy/32/7308_2.png) [@Clean\_Baldy](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Clean_Baldy)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2008, 4:51pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/have-you-asked-anyone-the-plane-conveyor-question/42490/33 "2008-01-30T16:51:55Z")
It all depends on how the question is asked. It is very easy to make a plane stand still on a tread mill with very little effort form the engines. Once the treadmill gets moving, and the friction factor of the wheels are overcome, a plane can essentially idle to stay at the same speed regardless of the speed of the treadmill. By “Same speed” the plane looks like it is sitting still. If the question is “If a plane goes the same speed as a treadmill going in the opposite direction” then NO, the plane wont go off. Trick question. The plane is sitting still if the treadmill goes 50 MPH in one direction and the Plane 50 MPH in the other. That would equal ZERO. However, there is PLENTY of power left with the engine to send the plane moving forward without any problem at all. So, what is the actual question as it started? So, what question are we trying to solve again? LOL I know that you CAN make a plane take off on a treadmill, but does that destroy the question? **Here is a video to explain what i just explained, but in video** [http://video.aol.com/video-detail/plane-vs-treadmill-solved-ii/718633121](http://video.aol.com/video-detail/plane-vs-treadmill-solved-ii/718633121) The plane requires very little to stay motionless on a moving treadmill, and EASILY can take off if it wanted to. BTW, 1 hour till the Mythbusters episode 🙂 [Previous page](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/have-you-asked-anyone-the-plane-conveyor-question/42490.md?page=1)