the treadmill example doesnt compare becuase your feet are the only source of propulsion. Imagine this... belgian in a giant slingshot, wearing rollerskates on said magical conveyor.... what do you think (hope) will happen?
Kaneda -A+Cole, I expected so much more out of you man. Put down the bong. Your physics professor want to see you. He said something about tearing up your diploma. Riddle me this batman - how do rockets/thrusters work in space if there is no ground to transfer energy to???Rockets, jet engines and cole all work off the same principle... expanding hot gas. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The expanding hot gas from the jet engines will THRUST the plane (Thrust - v. to push or drive with force) relative to the rest of the earth and atmosphere (which is not moving with the conveyor). This force will greatly exceed any drag imposed by the conveyor and wheels. Therefore, the plane will move forward, accelerate, and when it reaches sufficient speed, be able to take off. Put a jet engine on a car -does it fly? no. Does it move? yes.
Get your treadmill and crank it all the way. Then get a toy car. hold the toy car on the treadmill. can you push the toy car along the treadmill? I knew you could.. heres a cookie.