WSU Cougar Head Logo Washington State University
WSU Insider
News and Information for Faculty, Staff, and the WSU Community

Ask Dr. Universe: How can birds fly but people cannot?

Dr-Universe-230PULLMAN, Wash. – No matter how much you flap your arms or I flap my paws, gravity keeps us pulled to Earth. But when birds use their strong muscles to start flapping their wings, something amazing happens.

Dr.-UniverseA big part of the reason birds are able to fly is because their wings create airfoils that can split the air. We also find airfoils in the shape of tiny wings on bugs or huge wings on airplanes.

Read all of this answer from Dr. Universe at https://askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2016/09/19/can-birds-fly-cant/.

 

A service of Washington State University, Ask Dr. Universe answers some of the most interesting, tough and smart questions from curious kids all around the world.

 

Next Story

Student clubs provide launchpad to the future

Over 40 Voiland College-affiliated clubs invite students to explore their potential as engineers, designers, and scientists beyond the walls of a classroom as well as gain new leadership skills for the workplace.

Recent News

Student clubs provide launchpad to the future

Over 40 Voiland College-affiliated clubs invite students to explore their potential as engineers, designers, and scientists beyond the walls of a classroom as well as gain new leadership skills for the workplace.

New Honors Bornander Chair tackles ethics of ChatGPT

When students in Samantha Noll’s Honors College course on philosophy and technology raised the issue of ChatGPT and academic cheating, she knew she had to address it.

Find More News

Subscribe for more updates