You know the one about the plane on the treadmill? Well....

[TVC]

I just saw a clip on the TV where a Seagull was flapping its wings as it ran across the sand to gain enough speed to take off. So, was the bird, with its skinny little legs, actually running to build up speed, or were its wings developing thrust and its legs were just moving to keep it from falling base over apex?

 

[vernon]

The bird was maintaining its place in space and was helping to maintain the planet's rotational speed.

 

[snorri]

Look, it is clear the bird couldn't make up its own mind if it wanted to fly or run, how do you expect us to know what it wanted to do?

 

[TVC]

The bird was maintaining its place in space and was helping to maintain the planet's rotational speed.

Are you saying that the Earth revolves because all Gulls run in the same direction?

 

[Smurfy]

I just saw a clip on the TV where a Seagull was flapping its wings as it ran across the sand to gain enough speed to take off. So, was the bird, with its skinny little legs, actually running to build up speed, or were its wings developing thrust and its legs were just moving to keep it from falling base over apex?

Someone dropped an entire bag of chips, and it was too full and heavy to take off after gorging itself.

 

[irw]

Are you saying that the Earth revolves because all Gulls run in the same direction?

No, that can't be it, 'cos the ones in Australia run the other way around and balance it out!

 

[Hill Wimp]

Well don't rely on the ones on my beach to keep the world turning as they are too damn lazy to move far from the chippy.

 

[andytheflyer]

No, that can't be it, 'cos the ones in Australia run the other way around and balance it out!

No, no no. It's the birds (ex-dinosaurs) running around in different directions on takeoff that create the out of balance forces on the earth's crust that drives the plate movements and causes earthquakes and volcanoes. Simples.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

What would happen to a seagull on a treadmill?