Curious: Car vs Plane - Who Gets There First?

AI Thread Summary
In a scenario where both a car and a plane travel at 100 mph, the car would reach a selected latitude or longitude first due to its shorter distance to travel on the Earth's surface. The plane, flying at 10 miles high, has a longer arc to cover despite its speed. Ground speed is crucial in this comparison, as it determines the actual distance each vehicle covers. Wind conditions can affect the plane's airspeed, but if both are measured by ground speed, the car's proximity to the Earth gives it an advantage. Overall, the car would arrive first based on these factors.
Hinozuki
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Okay. Don't worry about 'where' or things in the way, and anything of the sort.

A car and a plane both going 100mph and the plane being 10miles up in the air. Which one gets the the selected latitude ( or longitude I forget which is up and down) first?

Wouldn't the car get there first? Because on a sphere the car being closer the the Earth would have a shorter distance to travel than the plane.

Just curious.
 
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Exactly
 
Yes but I imagine the effect would be essentially minute.
 
If you're going by ground speed, the car will arrive first for the very reason that you mentioned... shorter arc. If the aeroplane is measuring airspeed, then it's up to the wind to decide.
 
Actually, would that be true? If you go by ground speed, they are botyh covering the same amount of ground, aren't they?
 
Oops... :redface:
 

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