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Since we are on the subject of locomotion, I would like to raise this
question: Why has wheeled locomotive structure ever evolved in the animal
kindom? Does it have to do with the energy efficiency or flexibility of the
legged system for different terries on land?
Liming
-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Impelluso [mailto:impellus@KAHUNA.ENGINEERING.SDSU.EDU]
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2001 11:35 AM
To: BIOMCH-L@NIC.SURFNET.NL
Subject: Re: [BIOMCH-L] summer science quiz #2
OK...
This may be completely ridiculous but what the heck!
People are raising issues of starfish and other such creatures.
But when I think of locomotion, I think of everything
from a race horse to olympic runners to myself to my cat.
It seems that when runners are in their flow, there is
one foot on the ground, every so briefly, and the other
stretching forward, or being pulled in... but, yet,
in the air.
Is it binary? Either the foot is ON the ground or OFF
the ground. Any third, or odd numbered limb will have no
set place of its own.
If I do a thought experiment and conceive of an odd-numbered
limbed creature, I cannot imagine it ever being as fast
as the lion about to eat it.
tom
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question: Why has wheeled locomotive structure ever evolved in the animal
kindom? Does it have to do with the energy efficiency or flexibility of the
legged system for different terries on land?
Liming
-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Impelluso [mailto:impellus@KAHUNA.ENGINEERING.SDSU.EDU]
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2001 11:35 AM
To: BIOMCH-L@NIC.SURFNET.NL
Subject: Re: [BIOMCH-L] summer science quiz #2
OK...
This may be completely ridiculous but what the heck!
People are raising issues of starfish and other such creatures.
But when I think of locomotion, I think of everything
from a race horse to olympic runners to myself to my cat.
It seems that when runners are in their flow, there is
one foot on the ground, every so briefly, and the other
stretching forward, or being pulled in... but, yet,
in the air.
Is it binary? Either the foot is ON the ground or OFF
the ground. Any third, or odd numbered limb will have no
set place of its own.
If I do a thought experiment and conceive of an odd-numbered
limbed creature, I cannot imagine it ever being as fast
as the lion about to eat it.
tom
---------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe send SIGNOFF BIOMCH-L to LISTSERV@nic.surfnet.nl
For information and archives: http://isb.ri.ccf.org/biomch-l
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To unsubscribe send SIGNOFF BIOMCH-L to LISTSERV@nic.surfnet.nl
For information and archives: http://isb.ri.ccf.org/biomch-l
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