Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Trivia I Don't Want to Try

Surprisingly, a cat stands a greater chance of survival if it falls from a higher place than from a lower place. The laws of physics explain why: A falling object, after traveling a certain distance through the air, reaches a final speed, or "terminal velocity," because the object’s friction with the air slows the fall. The smaller the object’s mass, and the greater its area, the more it will slow.

5 comments:

mrs.missalaineus said...

now i am wondering what bad kitty's terminal velocity is...


have a good day!

xxalainaxx

Miss Ginger Grant said...

It also has a better chance to get itself "righted" in the air so it lands on its feet. Their legs are little shock absorbers- if they land on their feet their fall is cushioned. If they land on anything else....

I think a cat would have to fal VERY far to reach its terminal velocity, and I'm not sure their legs could absorb that much shock...

Dan said...

I will start dropping cats from different heights to check this out!

Unknown said...

Just leave it to Dan to have the common sense. I'm with him. Got a supply on my back deck. Neighbors cats are hunting birds again.

Joy said...

Dan, you crack me up!