How would a physics expert respond to the following suggestions made by three airline executives? Write a script of the expert's response for performance in front of the class.
Airline Exectutive A: Since the earth rotates from west to east, we could operate 'static flights'--helicopters that begin by hovering above New York City could begin their landing four hours later, when San Francisco arrives below.
Airline Executive B: This could work for one-way flights, but the return trip would take 20 hours.
Airline Executive C: That will never work. It's like when you throw a ball up in the air; it comes back to the same point.
Airline Executive A: That's only because the Earth's motion is not significant during that short a time.
I don't want you to make a conversation for me or anything, and I know the first two statements can't be right but I don't know how to explain them. Help?
Air moves with the Earth.
Physics Expert: Thank you for your suggestions, gentlemen. I appreciate your creative thinking, but as a physics expert, I must point out some flaws in your ideas.
Airline Executive A, your proposal about operating "static flights" based on the rotation of the Earth is not feasible. While it is true that the Earth rotates from west to east, the rotation does not affect the position of the cities below. The motion of the Earth does not cause cities to move relative to each other over time. Therefore, hovering above New York City for four hours would not bring San Francisco directly below for landing.
Airline Executive B, you are correct in your observation that the return trip would take significantly longer. As I mentioned earlier, the Earth's rotation does not move cities relative to each other, so the helicopters cannot take advantage of the Earth's rotation for the return journey. The helicopters would still need to fly against the Earth's rotation, which would result in a longer flight time compared to the initial journey.
Airline Executive C, I understand your analogy of throwing a ball up in the air and it returning to the same point. However, this analogy is not applicable to the rotation of the Earth and its impact on the proposed flights. The motion of a thrown ball in the air is mainly influenced by gravity, whereas the motion of cities on the Earth's surface is not affected by the Earth's rotation in the way you described.
Airline Executive A, I must correct your statement. The Earth's motion is indeed significant, even over short periods of time. The rotation of the Earth causes a range of phenomena, including the apparent movement of celestial bodies, the Coriolis effect, and the alternation of day and night. However, the Earth's rotation does not cause cities to move relative to each other in a way that would enable the implementation of "static flights" as you proposed.
I hope this clarifies the limitations of the suggestions. While it's essential to think outside the box, it's crucial to base our ideas on accurate scientific principles.