ChatterBank19 mins ago
Air travel quicker coming back from Florida ?
13 Answers
Some time back I was told that the reason its 2 hrs quicker to come back from Florida(7 hrs as opposed to the 9 going out) is due to the earths rotation ie you fly with the rotation going out but against it coming back so the UK is moving closer towards you.
Is this true ? Someone else said it was wind related.
Is this true ? Someone else said it was wind related.
Answers
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It's the jet stream that's a tail wind on the return journey.
The Earth's rotation has no effect, everything including air and clouds move at the same speed due to gravity.
If you think about a helecopter in hover.If the Earth was moving underneath; it would have to travel at the speed of rotation just to keep still.
The Earth's rotation has no effect, everything including air and clouds move at the same speed due to gravity.
If you think about a helecopter in hover.If the Earth was moving underneath; it would have to travel at the speed of rotation just to keep still.
The Earth spins toward the East (as is evident by the Sunrise). While the East coast of the US is moving toward the UK, the UK is simultaneously moving away from the US at the same time and at the same speed. The combined result it that distances are not significantly altered by the Earth�s rotation.
A plane �flying� east at the same speed as the Earth�s (eastward) rotation would get nowhere fast whereas a plane flying west at this same speed would get there twice as fast. This defies attributing the �shorter� return flight directly to the Earth�s rotation.
Between 30 and 60 degrees north latitude the winds tend to blow toward the north and east. This is the only explanation between the two offered that makes any sense.
Here's the likely villain: jet stream
A plane �flying� east at the same speed as the Earth�s (eastward) rotation would get nowhere fast whereas a plane flying west at this same speed would get there twice as fast. This defies attributing the �shorter� return flight directly to the Earth�s rotation.
Between 30 and 60 degrees north latitude the winds tend to blow toward the north and east. This is the only explanation between the two offered that makes any sense.
Here's the likely villain: jet stream
mib, are you sure about this?
"A plane �flying� east at the same speed as the Earth�s (eastward) rotation would get nowhere fast whereas a plane flying west at this same speed would get there twice as fast."
At the equator the Earth rotates at about 1000 mph yet palnes seem to manage to fly from, say, North America to Africa.
"A plane �flying� east at the same speed as the Earth�s (eastward) rotation would get nowhere fast whereas a plane flying west at this same speed would get there twice as fast."
At the equator the Earth rotates at about 1000 mph yet palnes seem to manage to fly from, say, North America to Africa.
Ah oh! Looks like I have some splainin� to do . . .
Gef, There are two ways of looking at this:
motion relative to a fixed point on the Earth's rotating surface,
or,
motion relative to a fixed point of reference that is not subject to the Earth's rotation.
I took it for granted that it would be understood that I was referring to a fixed point of reference not rotating with the Earth.
Thanks for pointing out the lack of clarity in my explanation and my apologies to all for whom this created some confusion.
The point I intended to make is that to fly east a plane must exceed the Earth�s eastward rotation, therefore the Earth�s eastward rotation, in and of itself, offers no advantage to eastward travel and therefore does not shorten the time required for the return trip as suggested by one of the �explanations� originally offered for this effect.
Gef, There are two ways of looking at this:
motion relative to a fixed point on the Earth's rotating surface,
or,
motion relative to a fixed point of reference that is not subject to the Earth's rotation.
I took it for granted that it would be understood that I was referring to a fixed point of reference not rotating with the Earth.
Thanks for pointing out the lack of clarity in my explanation and my apologies to all for whom this created some confusion.
The point I intended to make is that to fly east a plane must exceed the Earth�s eastward rotation, therefore the Earth�s eastward rotation, in and of itself, offers no advantage to eastward travel and therefore does not shorten the time required for the return trip as suggested by one of the �explanations� originally offered for this effect.
If there remains anyone for whom I have not yet achieved complete unintelligibility . . .
It may be of interest to note that since the Earth�s eastward surface velocity increases towards the Equator this contributes an eastward trend to a northward (from the Equator) flight. Allow me to explain . . .
Due to Earth�s rotation, Florida is move eastward at about 900 mph whereas the UK is progressing eastward at only 650 mph therefore Florida is moving eastward 250 mph faster that the UK. By traveling south from the UK at half that speed (125 mph) we would fly directly over . . . Florida, albeit in about 12 hours. Flying north from Florida at this same speed (125 mph) would bring us back to . . . the UK! . . . in about . . . 12 hours! . . .
Must be the wind ! ! !
oh lordie, I'm really gonna get it this time . . .
It may be of interest to note that since the Earth�s eastward surface velocity increases towards the Equator this contributes an eastward trend to a northward (from the Equator) flight. Allow me to explain . . .
Due to Earth�s rotation, Florida is move eastward at about 900 mph whereas the UK is progressing eastward at only 650 mph therefore Florida is moving eastward 250 mph faster that the UK. By traveling south from the UK at half that speed (125 mph) we would fly directly over . . . Florida, albeit in about 12 hours. Flying north from Florida at this same speed (125 mph) would bring us back to . . . the UK! . . . in about . . . 12 hours! . . .
Must be the wind ! ! !
oh lordie, I'm really gonna get it this time . . .
. . . me thinks you got your map upside-down�
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