Yudster wrote:I just want to UNDERSTAND................not necessarily in total depth and detail, but just enough so I know what to think.
Conveyor speed = 0
Plane speed = 0
Conveyor speed = -20
Plane speed = -20 (but only if the brakes were on and the wheels were stuck to the conveyor)
Conveyor speed = 20
Engine speed = 20
Plane speed = 20 (it moves forward '20' because that's what speed the engines are sucking/pushing the plane forward at - the wheels aren't connected to anything that gives drive, therefore are nothing to do with the physics of the jet engine moving the plane against the air ... air which is stationary no matter no fast the wheels are moving)
Wheel speed = 40 (because the 'ground' is moving backwards at 20)
If the plane was placed in a wind tunnel, that's a whole different story. Move the
air at -20 and the plane goes nowhere if the engines are at 20. Plane+Engines+Air=Car+Wheels+Ground
I think you are getting confused because you think the plane is stationary with the engines running forward as that was the impression the question gave - which is wrong. A standard plane that doesn't move forwards, doesn't take off (VTOL picture above excepted).