Can Earth's Rotation Be Used for Airplane Travel?

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    Airplane Travel
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When an airplane flies from point A to point B, Earth appears stationary from the plane's perspective due to the atmosphere rotating at the same speed. Utilizing Earth's rotation for travel is theoretically possible, but impractical; a rocket launched straight up would still share Earth's motion, making it difficult to hover over a specific point. The direction of a rocket's launch is crucial, as launching eastward takes advantage of Earth's rotational speed, reducing the required velocity to achieve orbit. While the Coriolis effect influences atmospheric dynamics, it does not directly produce winds; rather, pressure gradients drive wind formation. Overall, leveraging Earth's rotation for significant travel advantages remains complex and limited.
  • #31
So it would be sufficient for the atmosphere just to have an equatorial bulge? I guess I could buy that. I imagined that some other factor must be there. But the reference frame argument sort of clinches it.
 

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