Sunday, March 14, 2010

Aerodynamics, Bernoullis and Feathers



Seabirds in flight have always fascinated me, especially when they have enough wind to carry them without having the flap.

High aspect ratios, ways of flexing joints, muscle and feathers in ways man has yet to mimic to ride the wind (or steal food - check out the pic with just the two seagulls). And effortless -

Next time you're at the beach, slow down and watch what's going on around you. You may not be as geeky as I am and see the low pressure suction named after an old Italian manifesting itself as laughing seabirds waiting to drop target practice packages of digested fish and garbage on the hapless humans walking around (which I do think is funny, unless I am said human), but undoubtedly there is something (tiny waves breaking, dunes built up in the sand, seashells half buried in the sand, clouds sailing by) that will catch your eye.

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