Jack, I guess rather than gyroscope I should have said accelerometer -- so a device, such as a fiber-optic ring that will tell you your acceleration, both magnitude and direction.
Makes no difference at all. RLG's, mems, gyrocompasses (which do contain gyroscopes) - none of them in any way depend on the earths shape to function. This is an encouraged/popularized mistake/misunderstanding. Ask yourself - why do you think they need the world to be spherical in order to work?
In an airplane that's coasting, there is no acceleration, because gravity is balanced by lift.
That's not what the equations describe, but god knows i agree with you. The plane is (basically) not accelerating towards the ground when it is flying at constant elevation.
Now, if you're flying east-west on a 'Gleason map' flat-earth, then you have to constantly veer to the left to maintain the circle. You won't notice this effect physically, because it's small. But a sensitive accelerometer will detect it.
It certainly could, i agree. In reality, such precision even if present (it isn't) would be massively overwhelmed by local sources (wind, vibration, actual course flown etc.). A very large circle would, and does, seem identical to a straight path. Of course, airplanes don't travel in perfectly straight lines in any case. It's all a bit moot.
Conversely, if you're on a Globe earth, you'll have to constantly veer downwards, otherwise you'd fly off into space.
This is a common mistaken view amongst the "flat earthers" (psyop). They argue that because a plane DOESN'T (and doesn't need to) make any such corrections that this demonstrates the world can't be spherical the way we are taught.
If you agreed with this (flawed) premise, you would likely come to the same conclusion - that the world was not spherical, so it is a bit odd to me that you brought it up!
I hope this clears up what I mean?
A little. I still think you are misunderstanding what gyroscopes (and/or accelerometers) are in planes and what their function is.
Anyway, i once again thank you for earnestly engaging in the conversation. You might be surprised how rare that is! Much appreciated.
Makes no difference at all. RLG's, mems, gyrocompasses (which do contain gyroscopes) - none of them in any way depend on the earths shape to function. This is an encouraged/popularized mistake/misunderstanding. Ask yourself - why do you think they need the world to be spherical in order to work?
That's not what the equations describe, but god knows i agree with you. The plane is (basically) not accelerating towards the ground when it is flying at constant elevation.
It certainly could, i agree. In reality, such precision even if present (it isn't) would be massively overwhelmed by local sources (wind, vibration, actual course flown etc.). A very large circle would, and does, seem identical to a straight path. Of course, airplanes don't travel in perfectly straight lines in any case. It's all a bit moot.
This is a common mistaken view amongst the "flat earthers" (psyop). They argue that because a plane DOESN'T (and doesn't need to) make any such corrections that this demonstrates the world can't be spherical the way we are taught.
If you agreed with this (flawed) premise, you would likely come to the same conclusion - that the world was not spherical, so it is a bit odd to me that you brought it up!
A little. I still think you are misunderstanding what gyroscopes (and/or accelerometers) are in planes and what their function is.
Anyway, i once again thank you for earnestly engaging in the conversation. You might be surprised how rare that is! Much appreciated.