In order to maintain uniform flight, smaller birds must beattheir wings faster than

Chapter 7, Problem 7.43

(choose chapter or problem)

In order to maintain uniform flight, smaller birds must beattheir wings faster than larger birds. It is suggested that the relationshipbetween the wingbeat frequency, , beats per second, and thebirds wingspan, , is given by a power law relationship, n.(a) Use dimensional analysis with the assumption that the wingbeatfrequency is a function of the wingspan, the specific weightof the bird, , the acceleration of gravity, g, and the density of theair, a, to determine the value of the exponent n. (b) Some typicaldata for various birds are given in the following table. Do thesedata support your result obtained in part (a)? Provide appropriateanalysis to show how you arrived at your conclusion. Wingbeat frequency,Bird Wingspan, m beats/sPurple martin 0.28 5.3Robin 0.36 4.3Mourning dove 0.46 3.2Crow 1.00 2.2Canada goose 1.50 2.6Great blue heron 1.80 2.0