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Originally Posted by Mainerunr
I get what you're saying mountaineer, it's all in the wording and the way you're wording it, you are correct.
yes, a plane could take off even if on a moving treadmill.
but no, a plane cannot take off from said treadmill IF the wheels are spinning at the same speed so as to cover the exact same distance as the treadmill (ie wheels spinning at 200mph, treadmill moving 200 mph opposite direction) because if that were the case then the plane would actually NOT be moving (meaning it would be generating only enough thrust to overcome the friction in the wheel bearings.
everyone is looking at the can it take off and yes, it can but given the conditions specified by Mountaineer, no, it cannot.
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It can take off regardless of the wheels or what the treadmill is doing. The thrust generated by the engines is dependent on the air behind the plane, not the wheels. The wheels may burn up because of the friction, but it doesn't matter..it's still able to move forward and take off. The physics and math have been solved and it will work. I really don't see how people can think it won't take off in any scenario of the treadmill. It doesn't matter if the treadmill is moving faster backwards or even at the same speed, the wheels have absolutely nothing to do with the plane taking off.
Edit: But like you said, this question is made so as to trip people up with different wording. I've always and will always say the plane takes off, though, regardless.
