Recent content by Ekooing

I would also presume that the reason it's beneficial to be the last rider in the group of 2-5 but second to last when you hit 6 riders in the real world (at least I think those were the numbers in the article quoted) is because it may take up to 5 riders being in front of you to block most of...

I take that back. I was incorrect in saying all the answers "weren't wrong". The simulations are technically wrong, but in that "we know it's wrong, but it's the best we've got, so we'll take said results with a grain of salt", way. It still is actually wrong in the way that it is not a true...

There may very well be major differences between the answer to the basic physics question posed, what the testing and analysis that has been done shows, and the riders in the real world experience. The simplified physics answer to this question is rider "B" gets the most benefit for the...

:)

Sorry, that should be Plays With Squirrels.

Just one last thing. I want to tell you a story about a time my dad and I got into an argument (God rest his soul) during the summer between by freshman and sophomore year of college. That was the only summer I went back home, and he got sick shortly thereafter, so this was pretty much my last...

One more thing - here's another way to think about it. What if the cyclists were riding at 20mph with a 40mpg wind at their back. Would you expect everyone to "draft" backwards there the rear rider is peddling the hardest because they are not getting as much assistance from the wake turbulence...

Ut oh @haruspex, I added a superfluous word into that last message. Better read it fast and find it so you can be the first to point it out...

The question was asked in a physics forum. It had a diagram and question that looked like it could have been pulled right from a high school physics test. If it was, I provided the answer that would be given in the answer key to that question. If you don't like the answer, that's fine. But...

We as scientists use assumptions all the time in the hard sciences. i.e.: Physics: gravity is constant (9.8m/s^2). In reality, gravity varies with relation to how far you are from the center of the Earth (your elevation). Chemistry: the ideal gas law (PV=nRT). In the real world, almost no...

Well, I'll try to explain it... The article does a poor job of explaining. Although I can't say much because I apparently do too... Here's an experiment for you though. The next time your driving your car down the interstate, stick your hand out the window. Does it feel like the wind is...

Physics is ripe with assumptions. If not, you'd never be able to solve any politics equation because you otherwise have to account for literally millions of variables. This is not a "crude approximation of physics", but is actually how physics works. You can nitpick every detail about what I...

Can you help me out here @boneh3ad? I'm running out of ways to explain this...

If you're taking which requires more force to overcome, the wind resistance from the wind pushing against the front of the speeding bus versus that of the drag created by the turbulent wake, the answer is overwhelmingly the force created by wind resistance at the front of the bus. As for how...

Rudimentary is a relative concept. I have a math and science mind and love physics and chemistry. That along with my degree and work experience make this a rudimentary concept for me, and I truly apologize if I assumed everyone here would know it and didn't explain it properly. I sometimes...