Anyone else catch this?

jimbob200521

Diamond Member
Apr 15, 2005
4,108
29
91
I stole this from another forum, but it looks like the Mythbusters will do the highly debated plane on a treadmill myth: Link
 

Mxylplyx

Diamond Member
Mar 21, 2007
4,197
101
106
If this is true, I weep for the future of this country if a large number of people actually thinks the plane will take off. Sometimes, you just need to let retarded people be retarded.
 

BeauJangles

Lifer
Aug 26, 2001
13,941
1
0
Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
If this is true, I weep for the future of this country if a large number of people actually thinks the plane will take off. Sometimes, you just need to let retarded people be retarded.

You're kidding, right? Seriously. You're joking... aren't you? Jesus America is stupid and it's a sad commentary on our stupidity when a show takes on something that is a matter of physics as a
"myth". There is nothing myth-like about it.

Hopefully Mythbusters will also explore the myth about 'gravity' next. :roll:
 

MrDudeMan

Lifer
Jan 15, 2001
15,069
94
91
Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
If this is true, I weep for the future of this country if a large number of people actually thinks the plane will take off. Sometimes, you just need to let retarded people be retarded.

If you understood a simple free-body diagram, you would realize the plane actually does take off. The force the engines exert is in a completely different direction than the force exerted by the weight of the plane and the treadmill. Actually, I don't even know why I'm wasting my time.
 

broon

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2002
3,660
1
81
Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
If this is true, I weep for the future of this country if a large number of people actually thinks the plane will take off. Sometimes, you just need to let retarded people be retarded.

You're kidding, right? Seriously. You're joking... aren't you? Jesus America is stupid and it's a sad commentary on our stupidity when a show takes on something that is a matter of physics as a
"myth". There is nothing myth-like about it.

Hopefully Mythbusters will also explore the myth about 'gravity' next. :roll:

Just about every myth they take on is a matter of physics.
 

BeauJangles

Lifer
Aug 26, 2001
13,941
1
0
Originally posted by: broon
Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
If this is true, I weep for the future of this country if a large number of people actually thinks the plane will take off. Sometimes, you just need to let retarded people be retarded.

You're kidding, right? Seriously. You're joking... aren't you? Jesus America is stupid and it's a sad commentary on our stupidity when a show takes on something that is a matter of physics as a
"myth". There is nothing myth-like about it.

Hopefully Mythbusters will also explore the myth about 'gravity' next. :roll:

Just about every myth they take on is a matter of physics.

Okay, but this is a little different. Unlike, say, figuring out whether a chicken could really puncture the cockpit of a plane, this 'myth' requires no actual experiment.
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
26,201
4,871
126
Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
If this is true, I weep for the future of this country if a large number of people actually thinks the plane will take off. Sometimes, you just need to let retarded people be retarded.
The wheels effectively put zero force on the plane (they spin and don't move the plane backwards, no matter how fast the belt moves). Thus, there is nothing counteracting the thrust of the engines. Thus, the plane moves forward (no matter how fast the belt moves). As the plane moves forward (since the belt does nothing to the plane), it gets fast enough to launch. When it moves as it's takeoff speed, it takes off.

Why? Because the belt doesn't affect the plane at all.
 

PottedMeat

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
12,363
475
126
Originally posted by: MrDudeMan
Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
If this is true, I weep for the future of this country if a large number of people actually thinks the plane will take off. Sometimes, you just need to let retarded people be retarded.

If you understood a simple free-body diagram, you would realize the plane actually does take off. The force the engines exert is in a completely different direction than the force exerted by the weight of the plane and the treadmill. Actually, I don't even know why I'm wasting my time.

shhhhhh! don't give away the sekrit!

 

Fenixgoon

Lifer
Jun 30, 2003
33,690
13,412
136
for the love of all that is holy and scientific - the plane takes off.

ask any aerospace engineer.
 

yowolabi

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2001
4,183
2
81
Good to see that someone loaned mythbusters a plane and a giant treadmill.

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
for the love of all that is holy and scientific - the plane takes off.

ask any aerospace engineer.

I asked a treadmill engineer instead, and he said that the plane doesn't take off.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
If this is true, I weep for the future of this country if a large number of people actually thinks the plane will take off. Sometimes, you just need to let retarded people be retarded.

I agree with the bolded part, and I'll leave it at that.
 

dullard

Elite Member
May 21, 2001
26,201
4,871
126
Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
for the love of all that is holy and scientific - the plane takes off.

ask any aerospace engineer.
If you have a toy car with wheels, and you hold it on a moving platform, can you move your hand forwards and backwards (against and with the platform movement)? Of course not! ;) Your hand motion is now no longer controlled by you. Some mysterious force prevents your motions. I believe it is the flying spaghetti monster that creates this force.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
Originally posted by: broon
Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
If this is true, I weep for the future of this country if a large number of people actually thinks the plane will take off. Sometimes, you just need to let retarded people be retarded.

You're kidding, right? Seriously. You're joking... aren't you? Jesus America is stupid and it's a sad commentary on our stupidity when a show takes on something that is a matter of physics as a
"myth". There is nothing myth-like about it.

Hopefully Mythbusters will also explore the myth about 'gravity' next. :roll:

Just about every myth they take on is a matter of physics.

Okay, but this is a little different. Unlike, say, figuring out whether a chicken could really puncture the cockpit of a plane, this 'myth' requires no actual experiment.

Pretty much all of their "myths" could be explained without an experiment, but that wouldn't make very good TV :p
 

Tiamat

Lifer
Nov 25, 2003
14,068
5
71
Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
for the love of all that is holy and scientific - the plane takes off.

ask any engineering freshman.

fixed for ease of problem.

 

Mxylplyx

Diamond Member
Mar 21, 2007
4,197
101
106
Originally posted by: dullard
Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
If this is true, I weep for the future of this country if a large number of people actually thinks the plane will take off. Sometimes, you just need to let retarded people be retarded.
The wheels effectively put zero force on the plane (they spin and don't move the plane backwards, no matter how fast the belt moves). Thus, there is nothing counteracting the thrust of the engines. Thus, the plane moves forward (no matter how fast the belt moves). As the plane moves forward (since the belt does nothing to the plane), it gets fast enough to launch. When it moves as it's takeoff speed, it takes off.

Why? Because the belt doesn't affect the plane at all.

:eek:

Can I nominate myself for pwnage of the year?
 

BeauJangles

Lifer
Aug 26, 2001
13,941
1
0
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
Originally posted by: broon
Originally posted by: BlinderBomber
Originally posted by: Mxylplyx
If this is true, I weep for the future of this country if a large number of people actually thinks the plane will take off. Sometimes, you just need to let retarded people be retarded.

You're kidding, right? Seriously. You're joking... aren't you? Jesus America is stupid and it's a sad commentary on our stupidity when a show takes on something that is a matter of physics as a
"myth". There is nothing myth-like about it.

Hopefully Mythbusters will also explore the myth about 'gravity' next. :roll:

Just about every myth they take on is a matter of physics.

Okay, but this is a little different. Unlike, say, figuring out whether a chicken could really puncture the cockpit of a plane, this 'myth' requires no actual experiment.

Pretty much all of their "myths" could be explained without an experiment, but that wouldn't make very good TV :p

Well fiiiiine, I get your point :)

I just hate this topic and wish that people were not so stupid.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
Originally posted by: BlinderBomber

Well fiiiiine, I get your point :)

I just hate this topic and wish that people were not so stupid.

I do too. What's unfortunate that people are more willing to believe the pseudo-science on Mythbusters but won't believe the valid scientific explanations that have been given many, many times in the past. But if Mythbusters is what it takes to put this topic to rest, I welcome our new mybusting overlords and remind them that as a trusted forum member I can be useful for rounding up other people to toil in their underground salt mines.