On Thu, 18 Nov 2004, David Gillen wrote:
> Reminds me of a story my mum used tell, about how nasa scientists
> had done research and proven that with it's wing-size to body
> weight ratio it would be impossible for the honey bee to fly.
True. The point missing from above is that it impossible for honey
bee to fly using standard aerodynamic theory (laminar flow lift). Ie,
the honey bee (other insects too?) depend on other effects to
generate lift.
ISTR, they've done more research on this and on butterflies to
investigate what those effects might be and discovered these insects
generate lift primarily by means of vortices.
(which, interestingly, concorde's wing design in part did too).
> Unfortunately someone neglected to let honeybees know so they just
> continued to fly about making honey.
;)
I think the point was more that scientists couldnt explain how they
flew, and that it pointed out where they needed to do more research.
> db
regards,
--
Paul Jakma paul at clubi.iepaul at jakma.org Key ID: 64A2FF6A
Fortune:
My philosophy is: Don't think.
-- Charles Manson
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