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For various levels of thrust I will adjust the speed of the belt until the plane is stationary.
I wish to prove that although the wheels are on frictionless bearings they are still laterally
coupled to the plane and it will not accelerate to takeoff speed.
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but thats not right..the plane IS moving, in fact you need to re-read the original question - "....The plane fires up its engines, but AS IT MOVES FORWARD , the conveyor belt senses the speed of the plane's wheels ... etc etc
The plane is moving because its passage through the air is powered by its engines, and nothing to do with whatever its (freewheeling) wheels are doing or in contact with.. The plane will move forward, as the question itself stated, and continue doing so in the normal fashion until it takes off! You WILL NOT be able to adjust the belt speed until the plane is stationary.. you would if it was a car or similar, powered by its wheels, but it isnt!
if you were pushing a toy car, against the flow of a tesco checkout conveyor, would the conveyor going faster have any effect? No it wouldnt! you would continue to push the car forwards, with its wheels spinning like mad! same for the plane! aaaaarrrghhhh!
How can so many audi drivers lack any common sense whatsoever!
sorry, please, please close this thread... before I carry it on any more..
Tdi, send me some pics, go on, change the subject again!