Cause of Feather Movement in 2:56 of Documentary: Explored

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the observed movement of feathers in a documentary at the 2:56 mark, exploring potential causes for this motion. Participants consider various factors such as residual atmosphere, vibrations, and gravity, with a focus on the mechanics involved in feather movement.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that the movement of the feathers could be attributed to residual atmosphere.
  • Another viewpoint proposes that the movement is due to residual vibrations from the release mechanism, with internal forces in the feathers causing minor oscillations after release.
  • One participant notes an upwards motion in the upper, external sides of the feathers, speculating it might be due to transmitted vibrations or air resistance.
  • Gravity is mentioned as a factor that causes the edges of the feathers to droop, and a comparison is made to a spring-mass system to illustrate the time lag in movement after release.
  • There is a reiteration of the idea that in a vacuum, the stresses on the feathers would be zero, affecting their movement dynamics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views regarding the causes of feather movement, and the discussion remains unresolved with no consensus reached.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the conditions of the feather release (e.g., presence of atmosphere, vacuum conditions) and the nature of internal forces are not fully explored or defined.

NTW
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A small movement of the external part of the feathers can be appreciated In minute 2:56 of this documentary: .

What could be the cause? Perhaps the residual atmosphere?
 
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I would say any movement on the feathers would be due to residual vibrations from the release mechanism. When the feathers are hanging, you have internal forces inside them that hold the different parts up. Once released, it takes some time for these forces to relax, leaving minor oscillations in the feathers. That being said, there are hardly any movements at all.

Awesome video though.
 
After the feather is released, an upwards motion can be observed in the upper, external sides. Might be due to transmitted vibrations, but looks very similar to air resistance...
 
Gravity pulls down on all parts of the feather, making the edges droop. Release the feather in a vacuum and the stresses become zero. Plus it takes some time for the ends of the feather to become unstressed. That is what you see in a vacuum.
Imagine hooking a mass to a spring and hanging it. The spring will be extended. Release the spring and there will be a time lag before the mass begins moving, and only when all of the spring has become un-extended.
 
256bits said:
Gravity pulls down on all parts of the feather, making the edges droop. Release the feather in a vacuum and the stresses become zero. Plus it takes some time for the ends of the feather to become unstressed. That is what you see in a vacuum.
Imagine hooking a mass to a spring and hanging it. The spring will be extended. Release the spring and there will be a time lag before the mass begins moving, and only when all of the spring has become un-extended.

Exactly... A friend was telling me, just now, precisely that solution, and I was visualizing it with the mass and the spring...

Thanks...
 
No prob.
 

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