Drew Dowdell

as I've pointed out... the speed of the wheels is irrelevent. That was a miss wording in the original problem.

Voiceover : "Check out the Pontiac G6, with sunroofs available in regular..." *video of the standard sunroof opening* voiceover : "Large....." *video of the large multi-pane sunroof opening* voiceover: "and King size....." *video of the G6 Cabrio roof opening* would be best if the voice was a Barry White type....

that caused a bit of an office disturbence here Fly.

2nd advantage - Engine is smoother <and thereby more "premium"> 3rd advantage - Engine is much more powerful 4th advantage - No pushrods.... because pushrods r teh suck!

Now add wings and a rear stabilizer and rudder.... see if that helps...

the difference between winged aircraft and the rockets you are thinking of is the direction you aim them. Rockets can <and have> been used on fixed wing aircraft. Jet engines can't operate out of the atmosphere, that's why they don't use them in space.

Does the tread mill really counter act the thrust of the rocket if your truck is in neutral and the brakes are off?

I feel like I need to 'splain this in person lucy.

I can't believe we're debating the "Theory of Relativity" on C&G.

if you get on your mom's treadmill and the speedometer say 6 mph, but relative to the ground under the treadmill you are moving at 6 mph, then your legs are running at 12mph.

Nick worded the question incorrectly the first time... this is his update.

Put a jet engine in the bed of your colorado. Put the colorado in neutral. Light up the jet engine and see what happens with 30,000 lbs of rearward thrust. tell me what happens....

No. Assuming it takes a speed of 150mph for the plane to take off. The wheels will be turning an equivilant of 300 mph because the treadmill is running backwards at 150mph.

You've got it!

it needs air speed. again, look at my solid fuel rocket examples. which way do you think an Aveo in neutral is going to travel if you put it on the same treadmill with a rocket strapped to the roof?

there are plenty of net forces... the bearings of the wheels ensure that there are no forces from the treadmill effecting the body of the aircraft If the aircraft moves forward, the treadmill moves backwards. The force of the treadmill is rendered irrelevant because of the bearing in the wheel hubs. Because there is no backwards force pushing on the body of the aircraft, the plane continues to move forward.

I assume that Boeing uses slightly higher quality bearings then what one might find on a skateboard.

Want to see an Aveo fly? 1. Place Aveo on dynometer 2. Run Aveo up to 70mph in reverse. 3. Light the solid fuel rocket attached to it's roof. which way will the Aveo travel?

Let me phrase it this way.... what force is being exerted on the body of the plane by the treadmill? or another way..... If you tied a cable to one end of the plane to hold it in place, then ran the treadmill up to 160 knots, would the plane take off? The engines provide thrust on the body of the plane the treadmill provides the thrust on the wheels of the plane the bearings in the wheels neutralize the opposing forces

Does the engine push the plane forward? If not, why?

this is my next car folks....

the Asstech never looked promising....

Consider: The plane's movement relative to the ground is irrelevant. The plane's movement to the air is what allows it to take off. The jet engine provides thrust through the air. The tread mill provides a counter acting thrust on the wheels. The wheel bearings remove the effect of the thrust from the treadmill. The average speed of a loaded 747 take off is around 120 knots <so I've read>. All the treadmill will do is spin the hell out of the wheels while the jet is taking off.

how much was your monthly electric bill before you got the system?

Sly, consider this: 1. Put your maxima in neutral 2. Strap a solid fuel rocket to the top 3. place on magic treadmill 4. light rocket 5. stay off the brakes. What happens next? You want to try and tell me that you're not going anywhere?