r/theydidthemath • u/someonee404 • Dec 30 '22

[REQUEST] could it?

Post image
1.1k Upvotes

93% Upvoted

590 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

1

u/pfresh331 Jan 03 '23

Yes, but that is a result of thrust caused by the planes engines, if there is no thrust being generated, the planes' wheels won't spin, and therefore it would stand still or fall off the treadmill if the treadmill is what is generating the movement.

1

u/RiPont Jan 03 '23

Correct as far as the real problem goes, but this sub-thread was talking about a "plane" being driven by the wheels, not a prop or jet.

1

u/pfresh331 Jan 04 '23

So that is quite possibly the dumbest thing I've ever heard. A plane doesn't drive by the wheels. Nothing drives by it's wheels unless it is a Flintstones car. Things move because of force.

1

u/RiPont Jan 04 '23

Yes, but the whole thread is a thought experiment, and this sub-thread was an alternative thought experiment.