point A to point B, will you get as wet whether you run or walk? (no umberella !)
2006-08-25 01:01:01 · 16 answers · asked by johnnydolla 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Assuming that the rate of rainfall remains constant, and ignoring the water you splash on yourself as you tromp through puddles: Whether you run or walk, your forward motion will intercept the same number of rain drops over a certain distance. However, the amount of rain falling on your head and shoulders will be proportional to the amount of time you spend in the rain. So, you will come in contact with more water if you walk than if you run.
However, after a certain point, you are wet anyway, and further exposure won't make you any wetter.
2006-08-25 01:50:49 · answer #1 · answered by NotEasilyFooled 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Obviously if you walk slow enough to be out in the rain for hours, you will be a lot more wet than if you were running in it for a short period. Running will collect more rain on the front of you, but less on the back.
2006-08-25 09:00:37 · answer #2 · answered by rumplestiltskin12357 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Consider the rain as a homogeneous volume of drops .You may cross it or it may cross you or both move and cross each other .
The more volume swept through this homogeneous drops volume by your body the more you get wet .
Finally it comes out that the faster you go the less you will be wet .
2006-08-25 10:47:17 · answer #3 · answered by faramarz f 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will get wetter walking because you will be in the rain for longer!
The key here is that we are talking about walking/running for a set distance, not a set time period. So if it takes 5 minutes to walk but 1 minute to run, of course you will get wetter walking. If the distance is very far then you'll get soaked whatever you do.
2006-08-25 08:03:54 · answer #4 · answered by Perkins 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Contrary to one of the answers, the Mythbusters experiment showed walking to be slightly preferable to running.
However, their test was only over about 60m; if you were going to covering a kilometre or so, I suspect the answer would be very different.
2006-08-25 11:09:00 · answer #5 · answered by Paul FB 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will get wetter on the front, but drier on the back.
Ie. You will run into rain drops but rain drops approaching you from above will pass down behind where you were.
2006-08-25 08:52:12 · answer #6 · answered by skiparoouk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if points A and B are very close then u should run otherwise it makes no difference
2006-08-25 09:04:45 · answer #7 · answered by debanjan rr 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Makes no difference
2006-08-25 08:06:46 · answer #8 · answered by Banderes 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here is a website that has done the test: Hint, get your running shoes out!
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_395.html
2006-08-25 08:16:57 · answer #9 · answered by Sidoney 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
run or walk - you will get wet.
I guess the intensity will depend on the time you spend exposed to the rain
2006-08-25 09:03:09 · answer #10 · answered by Basil P 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋