I'd like to pose a riddle which has gained alot of notoriety on the Internet, particular in the Physics world. Even Physics teachers can't seem to agree on this.

The riddle is:

If a plane is sitting on a conveyor belt, and the belt will always move in the opposite direction of the plane, at the same speed, if the pilot throttles forward, does the plane have the ability to take off?

Now, before you answer, consider a couple of things first:

A plane is not a car.
A plane requires forward movement in order to generate lift. With that said, do not make any assumptions about the plane's forward movement (or lack of movement).
Assume the conveyor belt can be as long as a runway.
Assume the wheels are strong enough to spin at any speed without breaking.
Assume there are no snakes on this plane
Assume the wheels are free-spinning and are not locked/braked in any way.


So, what do you think?