Ep 3. Airplane on Conveyor Belt!

In Mythbusters season 6 episode 3, titled "Airplane on a Conveyor Belt!" the team takes on the popular internet myth about whether or not a plane can take off while on a giant conveyor belt moving in the opposite direction.

The show starts off with a playful and competitive tone as Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman challenge each other to a game of aviation knowledge. They cover topics like how planes generate lift and what factors affect takeoff speed. After this playful introduction, the real experiment begins.

The team builds a 240-foot-long conveyor belt and a 60-ton airplane model. They set up the runway and conveyor belt parallel to each other and begin testing. At first, the plane moves forward on the conveyor belt with ease, but things become difficult when they increase the speed of the belt.

The team observes that as the conveyor belt speed increases, the wheels of the plane rotate faster, but the plane doesn't move forward on the runway. The explanation for this is that the wheels of the plane are not what propel it forward; instead, it's the thrust generated by the plane's engines.

The team then sets up a system of winches to give the plane enough thrust to overcome the conveyor belt's movement and take off. They conduct several trials, adjusting the winch tension and conveyor belt speed to see how they affect the plane's ability to take off.

Additionally, the team tests other related myths, such as whether increasing runway length can help the plane take off or if decreasing the plane's weight will make it easier to take off.

Throughout the episode, the team provides detailed explanations of the physics behind each experiment and the data they collect. They also include some interesting and surprising facts about aviation, such as how much force is required to keep a plane in the air or if a penny dropped from a plane can cause damage on the ground.

Overall, Mythbusters season 6 episode 3 delivers an entertaining and informative scientific experiment that debunks a popular internet myth. The experiment is conducted with precision and care, and the team's explanations of the science involved are clear and easy to understand. This episode is a great example of how science can be both fun and educational.