The "Plane on a Treadmill" Question

[Flint]

Originally Posted by glatt

OK. If I change the original question to:

:::stops reading::: I'm discussing the original question.

A plane is standing on a runway that can move, like a giant treadmill. When the plane's engines throttle up, it begins to move forward, but the treadmill is made to match the forward speed of the plane, only in the opposite direction. So, as the plane moves forward, it moves backwards beneath the aircraft.

Interpretation #1: The plane “begins to move forward” relative to the treadmill, “but” because the treadmill, by whatever mechanism (not stated) moves the same speed, in the opposite direction, the net forward speed of the plane is zero.

Interpretation #2: The plane “begins to move forward” relative to the ground, and the treadmill “match[es] the forward speed of the plane” (relative to the ground) and moves this speed in the opposite direction, causing the wheels to spin faster.

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Your interpretation is not physically possible, and mine is.

Can you (or anyone) please elaborate on the reasons why interpretation #1 is not “physically possible” ???