Re: AERODYNAMICS

[jamolnar@juno.com]

On Thu, 7 Aug 97 13:02:18 -0400 Mark Shelly <mshelly@noclant.navy.mil>
writes:
>   A few thoughts on theropod aerodynamics.

>CRESTS:        The triangular shaped flats and crests on the theropod 
>heads over
>the eyes may have had an aerodynamic purpose. These features may have
>helped to control air flow around the eyes at high speeds.  This would 
>be
>especially important for those theropods that had some degree of 
>forward
>facing overlapping binocular vision such as tyrannosaurs. Too much (or
>little) pressure could distort the vision.  The crests may have helped
>keep excessive air pressure from building up.  The fierce looking 
>eyebrows
>on eagles may do the same thing.

The fierce looking eyebrows on eagles help keep the sun out of their
eyes, like the brim of a baseball cap does.  The eyebrows are covered
with feathers, which smooth over the outline of the head and so the
eyebrows would serve no aerodynamic function [unless they were sans
feathers].

Judy Molnar
Education Associate, Virginia Living Museum
vlmed@juno.com
jamolnar@juno.com
All questions are valid; all answers are tentative.