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Behind the ballistics of the 'explosive' squirting cucumber
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Re: Behind the ballistics of the 'explosive' squirting cucumber
#12Wild how evolution landed on 53° as the ideal launch angle. Nature’s own ballistics optimization.
> The experiments also revealed that the fruit stem straightens up during ripening, creating an average 53° angle that is close to the theoretical perfect angle of 50° that would maximize shooting distance. I recall from school that distance is maximized for a ballistic path when the angle is 45°. See e.g. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/football-projecti... Did someone get confused while writing this arti…
45deg is optimal if you neglect air drag on the projectile
Re: Behind the ballistics of the 'explosive' squirting cucumber
#13Some time ago, I grew clover in flower pots at the office and noticed one day that there were seeds stuck on the window pane.
Further observation revealed that clover flowers used a similar yet opposite mechanism to squirting cucumbers featured in this article. The seed pods would form and then dry out, and the dryness would form a tightness in the seed pod that upon touch(or given enough time and dryness), would burst out propelling its seeds far away from the plant.
While some seeds would stick to the window, I can only assume now that this is the seed itself clinging to other surfaced as another propagation method that I've not fully understood.
Comparing this experience to the article and the squirting cucumbers, I can imagine that the liquid used in this mechanism would only be useful to heavier seeds, as the added weight would hinder any 'dry' spread process.
This is only my immediate thoughts but it seems that evolution and time have figured out this concept long ago! Cool stuff!
(edit: typo)
Re: Behind the ballistics of the 'explosive' squirting cucumber
#14I know it’s not the point, but:
> 29 miles per hour and reach shooting distances up to 12 meters
Clash between Metric and Imperial is still alive.