How is it possible for the bumble bee to fly?

Question

According to the science of aerodynamics, the size, shape, weight and wing size of the bumble bee make it impossible for it to fly. The ostrich and emu have the exact same problems and can't fly yet, as we all know, the bumble bee does fly.Can anyone explain this?

Answer 1

Wow, another citation of urban legend expressing hostility to science, how rare.

Answer 2

determination,lol. hmm good question. I have heard that too. I will see what I can come up with. will be back later with the results one way or the other.

Well looky looky what I found http://www.wolfson.ox.ac.uk/~ben/zetie1.htm

I have checked out other links. they all basically say the same thing, that someone misscalculated, not taking in ALL factors and told this faulty story to the public. this myth has since spead like wild fire. which goes without saying since bumble bees do indeed fly.

A well-known myth says that scientists once proved that bumblebees should not be able to fly. The myth started from an over-simplified calculation on a napkin at a dinner party. But even detailed models of the flight of the bumblebee are limited because they are based largely on the motion of tethered bumblebees, which behave differently. Now Lijang Zeng of Tsinghua University in China and colleagues have devised a laser system that accurately measures the key parameter in the flight of any insect - its 'body vector' (Lijang Zeng et al 2001 Meas. Sci. Technol. 12 1886).......... http://physicsweb.org/articles/news/5/10/9

this link briefly describes the wings in action that helps it to fly
http://www.howstuffworks.com/news-item223.htm

Answer 3

Flap real fast