Bee's defy the laws of physics (for apprently they are too heavy to be able to fly according to the laws?

Question

of physics) So does this not mean that the laws of physics are wrong?

Answer 1

I have never understood the logic to this statement. Bees can clearly fly, without any difficulty whatsoever. Ipso Facto, the particular calculation, or the relevant theory of the laws of physics must be incorrect or flawed at present. Now tell me, is that too simple - aren't there more important problems in this tortured world to be getting on with?

Answer 2

I think the last time any real scientist seriously considered this was about 600 years ago. If bees really were defying the laws of physics, I think I'd know about it by now.

I think most people who think bees are defying the laws of physics have just taken the model of a bee and scaled it up to the size of a bird or an airplane or something before deciding it's too heavy to fly. This is a mistake: Scaling says that smaller things have an easier time flying than larger things.

Answer 3

The assertion that bees "defy the laws of physics" is actually a piece of humorous cynicism; the fact that they do fly is proof that they don't defy the laws of physics. What inspired the cynicism is the fact that they appear to have evolved in a manner that contradicts not just the accepted principles of evolution (that species evolve in the best way to cope with their environment), but also those principles that guide aerodynamicists in the design of aircraft. Their bluff and corpulent form is the antithesis of the streamlining the the latter aspire to in their designs, seemingly requiring an unfeasibly large amount of power to generate the lift to give them flight.

Answer 4

There are no laws of physics. This is a misconception. The most we can say is that having observed how things have occurred in the past then we can predict to some extent how they might occur in the future.

As to flight specifically, our observations of heavier than air objects defying gravity, lead us to make certain theories as to how this occurs - very useful in designing aircraft. However those theories do not explain how a bumble-bee flies. New observations and theories need to be made for this, but as there is a lot more money to be made from aircraft than bumble-bees, not much time is likely to be given to it, I fear.

Answer 5

Probably not. It may simply be the shape of the wings or how they move as they are beating up and down that scientists haven't really seen yet. Who knows, but it probably has more to do with bees doing something strange and different rather than the physics laws being wrong, though it is a possibility (though not a probability).

Answer 6

This is an excellent question.Bees do defy the laws of Physics illustrating the point that the book on Physics is not complete yet.

Answer 7

If you think bees defy the laws of physics, have you ever seen a wild turkey fly?

Answer 8

i may be wrong here but is it not theoretical physics which cannot explain the flight of the bumblebee? im sure there is a difference between actual physics and theoretical physics. the theoretical one, apparently, can prove that an elephant can hang off the side of a cliff with its tail tied to a daisy.

Answer 9

The research that generated that claim apparently did not properly understand how bumble bees fly.

Answer 10

The spinning of their wings generates more than enough lift for them to fly. The Ancient Greeks proved this.