Winging It
In this article, the mechanics of wing flapping is illustrated in a series of photographs captured by Eadweard Muybridge in the late 1800s. Each of his six images shows a pigeon's wings frozen in position. Such images can be studied to learn more about the physics of flying. The illustrations can also be page-flipped to produce an illusion of smooth motion, displaying a dynamic image of a bird in flight.
published online December 1, 2002
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