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Flight and Earth's Rotation
Name: Dane M.
Status: other
Age: 30s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2001-2002
Question:
Does the rotation of the earth effect the flight time of airplanes?
ex. Does flying to a destination against the rotation take longer than
flying to one with the rotation, or do objects within the earths
atmosphere travel at a relative speed with the earth?
Replies:
Dane,
The Earth's orbit has no direct effect on flight time. The planes do not
fly through space; they fly through the air. As an example, consider a
hot-air balloon. The surface of the Earth, as seen from the Moon or another
planet, rotates at about 5000 m/s. A ballon released into the air does not
see the Earth move at 5000 m/s. The atmosphere rotates with the Earth, and
the balloon moves with the air. 10 or 20 mile per hour winds can make the
balloon move, but not anywhere near 5000 m/s. Also, the direction of the
wind is not in any way determined by the direction of rotation of the Earth.
Temperature and water distribution across the planet are much more
important. A plane not moving through the air will fall straight down.
Moving through the air is like moving through the water. When you enter a
pool, does the earth move without you, causing the side of the pool to crash
into your body?
Dr. Ken Mellendorf
Illinois Central College
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Update: June 2012
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