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From: werner@aecom.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: Re: The Helicopter Riddle
Message-ID: <1337@aecom.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 30-Mar-85 12:58:28 EST
Article-I.D.: aecom.1337
Posted: Sat Mar 30 12:58:28 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 2-Apr-85 07:45:57 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: Albert Einstein Coll. of Med., NY
Lines: 20

> Assume that I've rented a helicopter for 1/2 day.
> Further assume that I've decided to suspend myself
> (in the helicopter) over the statue of Liberty
> for 4 hours. After 4 hours will I or will I NOT be
> still positioned over the statue of Liberty?
		> Dave Grajeda	

One assumes that if you decided to suspend yourself, you will remain suspended
by means of mid-flight corrections. But that's the trivial answer.

    Otherwise, I'm afraid the prevailing westerlies will probably cause you to 
drift over the Atlantic.
    The answer the question is begging for concerns the earth rotating under
your stationary point.  Well, that only occurs in textbooks with friction-free
surfaces, and no climate.
	Sorry.  As they say, the question is moot.
-- 
				Craig Werner
				!philabs!aecom!werner
		What do you expect?  Watermelons are out of season!