Gravity - brain teaser

 

Ok guys, either guys in my office are very thick or very smart.

 

Let me ask you this. If you were flying from London(UK) to a location directly on the opposite side of the earth, say Sydney(AUS) for example. Would you get there quicker if you flew east or west around the world, or would it take the same amount of time.

 

I need your reasons explained as well.

I'm not allowed at this point to give my reasons as I don't want to influence anyone else's. But I will give my explanation after I've heard from you guys.

Tosh! The equation is an imaginary line, thought up by geographers/cartographers.

 

Is the answer to do with wind etc, or more simplified?

 

I still stick with my "same either way" answer. :D

 

Oh and the 31 hours or whatever of daylight in Concorde is a different thing altogether. It's achieved be flying quickly towards where the sun will set, so it stays lighter longer ie the same "day".

 

Pete

Just remember that you're standing on a planet that's evolving

And revolving at nine hundred miles an hour.....

 

The circumference of the earth at the equator is 24,902 miles. It rotates once each day. So it is actually rotating (at the equator) at 1,037 mph. To the east)

 

If there was no air, a plane (actually a rocket or something as a plane doesn't work in a vacuum) heading east at 600mph would see the ground move away from them at 437mph.(1,037 - 600)

Conversely, the rocket heading west would cover the ground at 1,637mph.

 

But the earth does have an atmosphere. Clearly, this is coupled to the earth mechanically though friction and revolves with it. If it didn't, we would be living in a continuous 1,000mph gale.

 

Air is a gas and therefore moves fluidly - i.e. it is not rigid, it flows. As you get further away from the earth's surface (i.e. higher up) the air at that level is rotating less fast than the ground below it. A simple model would therefore say that at ground level, there is no difference between flying west or east to get to your antipodean point. And the further up you go, the more difference there would be.

 

However, neither life not the atmosphere is that simple. The atmosphere is 3d and has coriolis force acting on it which creates circulation cells.

http://www.geo.utexas.edu/courses/302P/Lectures%20by%20topic/3)%20atmosphere%20lecture%20stuff/Atmosphere%20Figs/4.2.gif

 

These create patterns of highs and lows which when combined with the earth's rotation give rise to a pattern of winds http://www.geo.utexas.edu/courses/302P/Lectures%20by%20topic/3)%20atmosphere%20lecture%20stuff/3.20.gif

 

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NasaNews/2003/2003030411331.html

 

And there are some very high speed winds known as jetstreams which span the earth at high altitudes. SO if your plane gets into these then their speed over ground is massively affected.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/weather/2003/01/16/jetstream.shtml

 

So the answer to your question is yes, there is a difference.

 

What it is depends on a) where are you going b) where did you start from c) how high up you are flying and d) what route you want to take.

 

 

This is why I am very glad that the driver of the plane I'm on is paid considerably more than me!

Originally posted by pete shrimp

Oh and the 31 hours or whatever of daylight in Concorde is a different thing altogether. It's achieved be flying quickly towards where the sun will set, so it stays lighter longer ie the same "day".

 

So, how about this. If you chased left London and chased the sunset in concord that travelled 1,000 mph. You would be travelling fast enough around the planet to hold the sun in the sunset position.

 

Which brings me to this. If you continued to travel at this speed causing the sun to appear to hold position then landed back in London, would it still be the same day ?. Of course not, but it makes you think doesn't it ?

Originally posted by Gio

Just remember that you're standing on a planet that's evolving

And revolving at nine hundred miles an hour.....

 

 

Yup, that was the song I was on about!:D

Time great thought provoker hey!!

 

Got relatives over in Aus and when they had their daughter and phoned here to tell everyone she actually hadnt even been born here yet so technicaly as SMW1 say if they then chased the sun she could of been here before she was born :p

Yeah but what happens if the Queen of england slipped on a banana, and landed face first in the jetstream of an overweight Bluewhale that has diareah?

300z

Yeah but what happens if the Queen of england slipped on a banana, and landed face first in the jetstream of an overweight Bluewhale that has diareah?

 

Well i recon those conditions may actually induce time travel!!

Originally posted by smw1

 

Macca,

So now if you add that to the equation... what do you get apart from one he|| of a jet stream if you are flying on the equator :D.

 

 

Soiled underwear;)

Now you are just guessing LMAO!!! :D :D

 

Oh what fun, I've loads of work to do and haven;t done anythng all day. Oh well, I'll just have to catch a flight tonight and travel round the globe anticlockwise at 1,000mph and then I'll have another 24 hours to get it done ;)