Suppose you are inside a smooth- flying [no bumps] jet plane moving at constant speed in a straight line across the Atlantic Ocean. Can you detect this motion [i.e., can you tell that you are moving] without directly or indirectly making use of anything outside of your own reference frame? If so, how could you detect this; and if not, why not?
A) Yes. For example, if you dropped a coin you would find that it lands to the rear of the drop point.
B) Yes. For example, if you dropped a coin you would find that it lands to the front of the drop point.
C) No, because jet planes move far too slowly for such an effect to actually be observed.
D) No, because of the principle of the constancy of lightspeed.
E) No, because of the principle of relativity.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the principle of relativity, the laws of physics are the same in all inertial frames of reference. Therefore, you cannot detect uniform motion without referencing an external frame.

Suppose You Are Inside a Smooth- Flying [No Bumps] Jet