terminal velocity and moggies

[wolf63]

Geniuses - there is a question in Animal and Nature about falling cats and terminal velocity.

Is there a kind soul here who would be willing to explain it in a way that non-science people (like me) can understand.

http://www.theanswerb.../Question1147326.html

Thanks

[Frank97]

From Wikipedia

Terminal velocity

In addition to the righting reflex cats have a number of other features that will reduce damage from a fall. Their small size, light bone structure, and thick fur decrease their terminal velocity. Furthermore, once righted they may also spread out their body to increase drag and slow the fall to some extent.[6] A falling cat's terminal velocity is 100 km/h (60 mph) whereas that of a falling man in a "free fall position" is 210 km/h (130 mph). At terminal velocity they also relax as they fall which protects them to some extent on impact. However, it has been argued that, after having reached terminal velocity, cats would orient their limbs horizontally such that their body hits the ground first.[7]

[edit] Injury

With their righting reflex theory, cats often land uninjured. However, this is not always the case, since cats can still break bones or die from extreme falls. In a 1987 study, published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, of 132 cats that were brought into the New York Animal Medical Center after having fallen from buildings, it was found that the injuries per cat increased depending on the height fallen up to seven stories but decreased above seven stories.[8] The study authors speculated that after falling five stories the cats reached terminal velocity and thereafter relaxed and spread their bodies to increase drag. However, an alternative interpretation which came out of internet chat[8] of the study would be that upon an excess of seven stories the cats experience a higher fatality rate which precludes the owner from bringing them in for medical attention. Although scientists in Massachusetts have recently discovered that the cat's ability to spread its legs out to increase drag when reaching terminal velocity would explain the decreased injuries sustained above seven stories because they wouldn't reach terminal velocity before then. Professor David Stevenson said "we simulated the cat's weight and size and found the terminal velocity to be 60mph which would more than likely result in severe injury or death to the cat when falling from this speed, but once we took into account the cat's ability to right its self and spread its body out this reduced the terminal velocity to only 53mph. This 7mph difference is massive and would almost certainly ensure the cat's survival. There however is always the possibility that the cat may not manage to right itself so this is far from a conclusive experiment and we do not condone the throwing of cats from anything."

[pdq1]

There was a science program on TV about 5 months ago about this. They set up a dummy in a lift and arranged it so the dummy jumped from the floor of the lift just before crashing. When they examined the dummy afterwards it showed all the damage that would have occurred it it was fixed to the floor.

This is because the dummy assumed the momentum of the lift.

[HowardKennitby]

I am willing to finance an extensive study into this.

[wolf63]

Howard - you and millions of others, cats are an animal that many people detest.

D97x7 - I will admit that I tried reading that information in wiki but I was hoping for an explanation of the explanation.

[Frank97]

I think it's saying that 60mph is the terminal velocity of a cat, but by turning over and spreading itself out it can reduce it's speed to 53mph and therefore survive.

[jomifl]

what bit don't you understand?

[wolf63]

jomifl - my brain doesn't always work when trying to read and comprehend information. Lithium may be good for batteries but it doesn't do much for memory and understanding.

I will try and read it again in the morning when I wake up.

D97x7, pdq1 and Howard - thanks for your answers too.

[jomifl]

Wolf, I wasn't being sarcastic, it was a genuine question, there is no point explaining something you already understand. If you want to know what determines the terminal velocity of a falling object whether cat or failed parachutist then someone will probably explain it in the time it takes for.....err something to fall from a tall building.

[wolf63]

jomifl - I'm sorry if I sounded a bit defensive.

Having read what D97x7 has posted and explained I see that cats are furry parachutes. I will try and find the programme that pdq1 mentions - mainly due to Big Brother disrupting my viewing for this evening.

Howard - I work for two cats (who are 7 years old today - boy and girl siblings) and love them to bits. However I can understand why people dislike them. :-)