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

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When the plane accelerates, the coin will land behind the drop point because the plane (and you) move forward while the coin is in free fall.

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