- #1
dedocta
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Could they generate enough lift for 1/11th the weight of a human? Was picturing a giant warehouse and curious if it would work!
Would Icarus' wings fly in Earth's atmosphere and moon gravity?
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- Thread starter dedocta
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- Atmosphere Gravity Moon Wings
In summary, the conversation discusses the possibility of a human generating enough lift for 1/11th the weight of a human, referencing lunar gravity as 1/6th. The topic then shifts to the legend of Icarus and the challenges of designing wings for human-powered flight. The conversation also mentions the weight and wingspan of a wandering albatross as a reference for the dimensions needed for human-powered flight. Finally, the conversation suggests discussing the potential of human-powered flight in the context of technical physics rather than science fiction.
- #2
DaveC426913
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dedocta said:
Why 1/11th? Lunar gravity is 1/6.Practically, there's no way to really know. How do you decide how much lift a human could produce without first choosing or designing the wings?
- #3
Baluncore
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We have the legend of Icarus flying in the atmosphere.
The problem then was the melting point of the bee's wax used to attach the feathers.
The problem then was the melting point of the bee's wax used to attach the feathers.
- #4
dedocta
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Oh my goodness - 1/6th thanks Dave! Bit of a spaceshot here haha. Thats a good point.
- #5
Frabjous
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A wandering albatross weighs around 25 lbs and has a 10 ft wingspan so the dimensions would not be unreasonable.
- #6
berkeman
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Since this thread start is in the technical Physics forms and not SciFi, shouldn't you be asking about how much farther optimized human powered flight could fly?dedocta said:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_human-powered_aircraft
1. Would Icarus' wings be able to support his weight in Earth's atmosphere?
It is unlikely that Icarus' wings would be able to support his weight in Earth's atmosphere. The materials used to make the wings, wax and feathers, would not be strong enough to withstand the force of gravity on Earth.
2. How would the density of Earth's atmosphere affect Icarus' wings?
The density of Earth's atmosphere would have a significant impact on Icarus' wings. The thicker atmosphere would create more resistance and make it difficult for Icarus to fly and maintain altitude.
3. Could Icarus' wings withstand the colder temperatures in the upper atmosphere?
It is unlikely that Icarus' wings would be able to withstand the colder temperatures in the upper atmosphere. The wax used to attach the feathers would likely melt, causing the wings to lose their structural integrity.
4. Would Icarus' wings be able to support him in the lower gravity of the moon?
It is possible that Icarus' wings could support him in the lower gravity of the moon. However, the lack of atmosphere on the moon would make it difficult for Icarus to generate enough lift to fly.
5. How would the lack of oxygen on the moon affect Icarus' ability to fly with his wings?
The lack of oxygen on the moon would have a significant impact on Icarus' ability to fly with his wings. Without oxygen, the combustion process that creates lift would not be possible, making it impossible for Icarus to fly.
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