[jims69camaro]

the part i get stuck on is that the original problem states that the conveyor moves at the speed of the wheels. since the wheels are only holding the plane up while it accelerates to the speed necessary to take off, and there is no power being applied to the wheels like a car, then why would the conveyor be moving at all?

if, instead, we assume that the conveyor would move at the speed of the plane as it accelerates towards take off speed, then that's different, and i don't see the plane generating enough lift to take off. being on the discovery channel has nothing to do with it, they can be wrong just as any of us could. and a sudden burst of speed would only accelerate the conveyor, so it would balance itself out and not take off.