Can a plane fly faster than the Earth rotates?

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asked Dec 5, 2020 in Aircraft by jarrybarbeverest (1,390 points)
Can a plane fly faster than the Earth rotates?

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answered Dec 5, 2020 by SandSam (7,630 points)
A plane cannot fly faster than the earth rotates as the earth rotates at least 2 times faster than a plane can fly.

The plane is also affected by the earths spin as well and as the Earth itself rotates, it takes the air with it (thanks, gravity!).

That also includes the air through which planes fly.

At the equator, the Earth spins about twice as fast as a commercial jet can fly.

That rate slows the closer you get to the poles, but regardless, it's always going to be faster than a plane.

The reason planes don't fly straight across the Atlantic is due to math and physics.

Planes don't fly straight across the Atlantic because the circumference of the Earth is a lot further around the equator than it is at higher or lower latitudes towards the poles of the earth, such is the spherical shape of our planet.

Flying around the smaller circumference of the Earth is called the “Great Circle Route” and also very noticeable for flights from the U.S. to Asia that will fly far above Alaska and Siberia rather than what would appear to be a straight line.

If you think about drawing a line around a globe in the middle where it is widest, versus towards the North or South poles, the differentiation of distance begins to become apparent, and it not only saves a huge amount of time but also fuel.

It makes much more sense to not fly straight across the Atlantic.

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