<![CDATA[Plane on a conveyor belt]]>Read the question and really think about it before you answer.

A plane is standing on a runway that can move (some sort of band conveyer). The plane moves in one direction, while the conveyer moves in the opposite direction. This conveyer has a control system that tracks the plane speed and tunes the speed of the conveyer to be exactly the same (but in opposite direction).

The question is:

Will the plane take off or not?

Please explain your answer.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/topic/5104/plane-on-a-conveyor-beltRSS for NodeThu, 28 May 2026 04:14:25 GMTTue, 13 Dec 2005 04:52:17 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 02:03:31 GMT]]>

JN210;203434 wrote:
AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!, not even my principal (has been in physics for 10yrs!!!) knows......I need real teachers....he says it will sit still....LIKE A CAR!!!!....dear god...

u do need teachers especially english ones...

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192252https://fargostreet.com/post/192252Fri, 01 Feb 2008 02:03:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:34:58 GMT]]>Maybe you should direct them to Fargostreet.com, they'll get an education real fast..:icon_rabbit:

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192241https://fargostreet.com/post/192241Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:34:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:52:01 GMT]]>AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!, not even my principle (has been in physics for 10yrs!!!) knows......I need real teachers....he says it will sit still....LIKE A CAR!!!!....dear god...

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192221https://fargostreet.com/post/192221Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:52:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:42:22 GMT]]>

JN210;203361 wrote:
no sir.....my physics teacher said it wouldn't fly..

He should probally look at another line of work.....:icon_thumright:

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192180https://fargostreet.com/post/192180Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:42:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:50:18 GMT]]>

GhettoFabulousCRX;203349 wrote:
oh man,, your kidding right?

no sir.....my physics teacher said it wouldn't fly..

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192149https://fargostreet.com/post/192149Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:50:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:20:22 GMT]]>Well I didnt see it, but I am glad the debate is over. Nice to see so many humble people in here responding though. 🙂

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192146https://fargostreet.com/post/192146Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:20:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:18:29 GMT]]>

tjamz;203352 wrote:
Which means the plane always takes off, regardless of how you read the riddle.

Some of the myths they test have blatant disregard for the laws of physics so it's nothing new for them to test it anyways...

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192145https://fargostreet.com/post/192145Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:18:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:15:46 GMT]]>The original question never said anything about the plane not being able to move, in fact, it says that the plane moves in the opposite direction, so how could that be confused as that the plane can't move??

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192143https://fargostreet.com/post/192143Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:15:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:12:48 GMT]]>

StangerBanger96;203350 wrote:
The wording of the myth could be the cause for the confusion...

If you read the myth as the plane will not have any forward motion with respect to the surrounding air, it won't fly.

But then you have to ignore physics. It never says it stops forward motion, just that it moves at the same speed in the opposite direction, which cannot stop the plane from taking off.

If you read the myth as the plane will eventually have forward motion with respect to the surrounding air, it will fly.
**
This is the only way to read the myth and have real world physics applied to it.**

An understanding of physics and a little in depth thinking will make a person realize that since the thrust is coming from the prop/jets and not going into wheel-power, the wheels have no actual purpose other than support and the plane will ALWAYS be able to overcome with conveyor's speed.

Which means the plane always takes off, regardless of how you read the riddle.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192141https://fargostreet.com/post/192141Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:12:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:10:21 GMT]]>

GhettoFabulousCRX;203349 wrote:
oh man,, your kidding right?

Nope...search back a bit in the thread...

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192140https://fargostreet.com/post/192140Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:10:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:10:03 GMT]]>The wording of the myth could be the cause for the confusion...

If you read the myth as the plane will not have any forward motion with respect to the surrounding air, it won't fly.

If you read the myth as the plane will eventually have forward motion with respect to the surrounding air, it will fly.

An understanding of physics and a little in depth thinking will make a person realize that since the thrust is coming from the prop/jets and not going into wheel-power, the wheels have no actual purpose other than support and the plane will ALWAYS be able to overcome with conveyor's speed.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192139https://fargostreet.com/post/192139Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:10:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:01:10 GMT]]>oh man,, your kidding right?

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192138https://fargostreet.com/post/192138Thu, 31 Jan 2008 04:01:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:54:28 GMT]]>well...you cant blame me.....my physics teacher told me it wouldnt fly.....

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192134https://fargostreet.com/post/192134Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:54:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:06:40 GMT]]>

JN210;203328 wrote:
seriously..if you STILL dont think it will fly...go jump off a cliff lol

says the 16 year old.............do you know that physics is?

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192129https://fargostreet.com/post/192129Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:06:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:04:48 GMT]]><u>Wow Im Supprised!!!!!!!!!</u>

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192128https://fargostreet.com/post/192128Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:04:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:00:32 GMT]]>WHOEVER SAID NO IS WRONG!!!!!!!!!!, it flew

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192125https://fargostreet.com/post/192125Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:00:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:58:46 GMT]]>ha.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192124https://fargostreet.com/post/192124Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:58:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:58:25 GMT]]>I wouldn't want that guy to be flying the plane I'm in.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192123https://fargostreet.com/post/192123Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:58:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:57:38 GMT]]>Booyah!!!!! MYTH BUSTED!!!!!

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192122https://fargostreet.com/post/192122Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:57:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:57:24 GMT]]>The pilot doesn't think it is gonna take off, hahha

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192121https://fargostreet.com/post/192121Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:57:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:53:00 GMT]]>

tjamz;203326 wrote:
So, you think they are flawed in their method of testing?

no no no. It's obvious it'll take off. I posted that days ago. I posted up at first, "no way man not gonna happen". Then thought about it and the concept hit me.

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192119https://fargostreet.com/post/192119Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:53:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:43:21 GMT]]>^they could be...they have ONLY been doing this kinda stuff for how long now?......seriously..if you STILL dont think it will fly...go jump off a cliff lol

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192117https://fargostreet.com/post/192117Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:43:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:38:25 GMT]]>

GhettoFabulousCRX;203324 wrote:
yeah,, and it took off on the telivisions. If you didn't don't beleive the stuff on their than your a dummay

So, you think they are flawed in their method of testing?

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192115https://fargostreet.com/post/192115Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:38:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Plane on a conveyor belt on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:32:49 GMT]]>yeah,, and it took off on the telivisions. If you didn't don't beleive the stuff on their than your a dummay

]]>https://fargostreet.com/post/192113https://fargostreet.com/post/192113Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:32:49 GMT