The "Plane on a Treadmill" Question

[Shawnee123]

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

The plane took off.

So, why is there still an argument?[/horrible tailposting]

Wtf? The plane was moving forward...so the treadmill wasn't equal to the plane? Well duh, it's not stationary as the original question seemed to suggest, of course it will take off, it will just take the wheels longer to get up to speed.

[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

Wtf? The plane was moving forward...so the treadmill wasn't equal to the plane?

It was moving backward relative to the ground at the same speed the plane was moving forward relative to the ground.

Well duh, it's not stationary as the original question seemed to suggest,

That was the trick in the trick question- it seems to suggest that the plane will be stationary, but doesn't actually say so.

of course it will take off, it will just take the wheels longer to get up to speed.

No. The wheels actually move twice as fast.