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

question 107

Multiple Choice

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.

---

Definitions:

Subsidiary

A company that is completely or majority-owned by another company, referred to as the parent company.

GAAP

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, a set of rules and standards designed to ensure consistency, transparency, and integrity in the financial reporting of companies in the United States.

Amortization

The systematic allocation of the cost of an intangible asset over its useful life, reflecting the consumption of the asset's economic benefits.

Consolidated Net Income

The total net income of a parent company and its subsidiaries after the elimination of inter-company transactions, presented in consolidated financial statements.