Universal wing- and fin-beat frequency scaling

[Filip Larsen]

Good to know the power of dimensional analysis is still able to find gold:

We derive an equation that applies for the wing-beat frequency of flying animals and to the fin-stroke frequency of diving animals like penguins and whales. The equation states that the wing/fin-beat frequency is proportional to the square root of the animal’s mass divided by the wing area. [...] the constant of proportionality is to a good approximation the same across all species

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0303834

 

[marcusl]

What I find astonishing here is that flying through air and swimming through a heavy viscous fluid land on the same curve.