Originally Posted by Tark

An airplane flies due to the aerodynamic reactions that happen when air passes at high speed over the wing.

When air passes over the wing, it is forced to pass underneath or over top of it. The length of the wing is larger on the top portion, so according to laws of aerodynamics, the air flow becomes faster, to compensate the larger distance to be travelled. This significantly diminishes the pressure of air on the wing; the difference of pressure under and over the wings creates the necessary lift for flight.

on a belt that would not happen because the plane it not actually moving it staying still... the only movement are the wheels.


EDIT quote taken from Wikipidea

Originally Posted by clickwir

Lets also try this, for those more simple minded.

Lets say you and a friend happen to have a toy plane and your fat moms treadmill. Put the toy plane on the treadmill so it would be facing the front (as if you were walking on it and facing forward). Now if your homo friend turns on the treadmill, the plane will fall off the back. Seems normal enough right?

Ok, now hold onto the plane with your hand. Have your friend turn on the treadmill on low. Can you still move the plane forward on the treadmill? Sure you can! The wheels will be spinning faster, but since the plane is not getting it's force from the wheels, it's getting it's forward moving force from you, it will still be able to move forward no matter what the wheels are doing.

Go ahead and have some fun and turn the treadmill on high/full speed. Can you still move the toy plane forward? OF COURSE YOU CAN. It's very simple. The toy plane and the real plane don't use the wheels for forward movement. They get their thrust from you or the planes engines. Sure the wheels will be spinning really fast, but that won't stop the plane from moving foward.