A stationary helicopter

Classical Mechanics Level 2

Consider a helicopter standing still above, high in the sky. If it continues to stand still in the air for several days(ignore fuel woes and other such technical issues) will it's geographical location on the earth change owing to the rotation of the earth on its axis?

It would change a little. It might change a little. Not at all. Yes

Mayank Holmes by Mayank Holmes , 25, India

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2 solutions

Vaibhav Kandwal
May 7, 2017

Another explanation could be that the atmosphere too moves along with the helicopter.

PS. This question was asked by my science teacher in 9th grade :P

1 Helpful 0 Interesting 0 Brilliant 0 Confused
Mayank Holmes
May 6, 2017

The gravitational force of the earth binds the helicopter in one place.

0 Helpful 0 Interesting 0 Brilliant 0 Confused

"Consider a helicopter standing still above, high in the sky"

I find this phrasing confusing because rest and motion are both relative terms. When we say that the helicopter is standing still, is it fixed with respect to a point on the Earth or with respect to the sun or with respect to the air?

If it is fixed with respect to a point on the Earth then obviously it must be rotating with the Earth at the same angular velocity and changing its position in space, although, it will remain at the same location geographically.

But, if it is fixed with respect to the Sun, then it must be changing its position geographically just like the Sun.

Rohit Gupta - 4 years ago

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