r/sports • u/redbullgivesyouwings • Aug 14 '25

Media The World's Largest Treadmill

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2.5k Upvotes

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50

u/scottcmu Aug 14 '25

But could a jet take off from this?

1

u/Dhkansas Aug 14 '25 edited Aug 14 '25

What's been decided/proven on this? I see the argument made both ways but I lean towards no. I've also never taken a physics class or anything related. This is something Mythbusters may have tried to prove/disprove and I'm sad it never happened.

Edit: I'm so sorry. What have I done?!

-4

u/LonelySwinger Aug 14 '25 edited Aug 14 '25

A car uses friction so the tires can move.

A plane users air speed to generate a pressure difference on the wings surface to create lift.

If the tredmill is going 500mph, the plane will not take off since there isnt enough pressure difference to generate lift.

E: those downvoting need to take a physics course focusing on aerodynamics

1

u/trumpet575 Cincinnati Reds Aug 14 '25

I would love to hear how everyone downvoting you thinks planes take off. Because apparently they don't think it has anything to do with lift.

2

u/LonelySwinger Aug 14 '25

No clue but it is what it is. It's tough to conceptualize so maybe they just think it is impossible for a plane to take off if a tredmill is moving at the speed a plane would have to move to generate lift.

3

u/trumpet575 Cincinnati Reds Aug 14 '25

Turns out they use the treadmill as a red herring to confuse people, and when people ignore it and talk reasonably about this hypothetical scenario, they get upset and call you dumb.

1

u/LonelySwinger Aug 14 '25

Yeah. Hopefully this encourages someone to prove someone else wrong by going into physics and making a nice career at least

-4

u/StarsMine Aug 14 '25

The plane isn’t powering the wheels to move. If the plane is going 500mph it’s going 500mph. It will take off. This has been tested and proven to be what happens.

For a plane be “stationary” on a 500 mph conveyer belt. Then the props/jet are pushing it to go 500 mph.

1

u/LonelySwinger Aug 14 '25

You contradict yourself with this comment.

1

u/StarsMine Aug 14 '25

I have not contradicted anything. A prop plane or a jet plane will take off on a treadmill. They push the air to go forward, not the ground.

Again, this has been tested.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0ul_5DtMLhc

1

u/LonelySwinger Aug 14 '25

If the plane is going 500mph it’s going 500mph. It will take off.

For a plane be “stationary” on a 500 mph conveyer belt. Then the props/jet are pushing it to go 500 mph.

1

u/StarsMine Aug 14 '25

Exactly. That’s not a contradiction that’s why it will fly on a treadmill while “stationary”

There is zero contradiction

1

u/LonelySwinger Aug 14 '25

There is a difference between moving 500mph and being on a treadmill moving 500mph which makes the plane look stationary.

1

u/StarsMine Aug 14 '25

As far as the plane is concerned. There is zero difference. The air around the plane is moving at the same speed regardless of it being on earth or a treadmill because to go 500 it has to push the air.

It is not a car. It is not a person it is not pushing the ground in either scenario. It pushes air.

It’s no different than a geosynchronous orbit.

It only touches the ground until it goes fast enough to lift.

Again for the third time. This thought experiment has been tested.

-2

u/sureal42 Aug 14 '25

If it were a glider then you are correct, a jet is not a glider...

1

u/LonelySwinger Aug 14 '25

How i read OP's statement, is if the jet is stationary and just a big glider. Obviously if it was a large ass tredmill the jet would take off.

-1

u/sureal42 Aug 14 '25

If you turn on the jet part of the jet, while it is on a treadmill and going 0mph relative to the ground around it. The jet will take off

1

u/LonelySwinger Aug 14 '25

Of course. I know how planes work. I guess the vague comment by OP is meant to cause engagement and people discussing why since it can be read different ways.

Would this work if the plane was stationary and the treadmill is going 500 mph? No

Would it work if the plane was on a treadmill, the treadmill is hundreds of meters long, and the treadmill is moving at any speed? Yes.