Why Do Geese Fly In A Formation Of a V?

Question

It's that time of year when geese fly elsewhere to avoid the British Winter.

But have wondered recently why do they fly in formation of a V?

Thanks

Answer 1

A wise Creator gave them the instinct to know that aerodynamically this will work best. When you see them drifting out of the "V" it is probably when they are shifting to have another goose take the lead position for a bit.

Honk- honk. It is a lovely time of year, isn't it?

Answer 2

It helps to reduce wind resistance, and allows the geese to travel father and longer. The geese in the back do not get hit with as much wind resistance as the geese in the front, that goose is the one that gets hit with all the wind, but this breaks up the wind, and then the wind hits the next two geese in formation and gets broken up even more, so the geese at the end have an easy flight. When the lead goose gets tired, he travels to the end of the V and the next goose takes over.

Answer 3

Apparently geese have learned that this formation is most efficient in minimizing air resistance. This enables them to fly further per day.

If you have sufficient distance to watch closely you will also note that the goose at the front point of the V will drop back to the end and another takes his place. This continues throughout the day. The goose at the front is hit with the greatest resistance and this tires the goose out. He falls to the back because this has the least resistance and he regenerates his strength as he works his way forward.

Their flight is a team effort.

Answer 4

The geese in back are actually "drafting" off of the ones in front. The front geese cut the air for the ones behind, making it easier for them to make the trip due to less wind resistance. The ones in the back take turns up front (where there is wind resistance).

That is why they don't fly directly behind each other. If they did, there would be such turbulent air that they would have to work very hard to fly.

Do you know that the one in front doesn't honk? The ones in back honk so that the ones in fron know they are there, and they know where they need to be to keep cutting the air.

Answer 5

This is to break the wind, and draft from the goose in front. They take turns and fall back in the line when they get tired . Contrary to popular belief, they don't know so you can't ask them. They do not study aerodynamics, we do. God directs them and they fly free, no check in security or anything. G is actually their favorite letter, so that doesn't fly. Ducks do the same thing. They actually fly quite high and travel long distances. 10,00 foot or higher. They have also been know to have gotten caught in updrafts when flying through storm systems. Frozen and dropped to the ground.

Answer 6

They fly in a formation of a v because the first one in the v breaks the air resistance for the rest. Eventually, when this one gets tired, it drops to the back and another takes its place. The geese are "streamlining" like this because they know it is aerodynamically the easiest.

Answer 7

Geese fly in this formation because it is more efficient. A goose flying behind another goose gets sucked along in the airflow caused by the wings of the first goose. This is just like racing cars and cyclists getting an advantage in the slipstream cause by the car/bike in front.

Answer 8

I dont remember the exact explaination but to give you an idea well it is because that V formation allows the birds to stay in the air for long time without getting tired. I guesse airodynamics can explain it much better.

Answer 9

on a V formation, the birds avoid too much air pressure when they fly. the one that is in front of that v formation is usually the strongest bird....it has something to do with PHYSICS..i just forgot the technical term for that..anyway, thats the idea

Answer 10

it reduces air drag, so they can fly faster and use less energy.

the one at the front uses more energy, so after a while they swap with another and they all take it in turns

do you ever watch formula one or other motor racing?
notice how when are are about to overtake, they get right up behind the car infront, in their slipstream, this is because the air resistance directly behind the car is lower and therefore the car behind does not need to put his foot down as much as the car in front in order to go the same speed. then when its the right time, the car behind slingshots out and puts his foot down, so is able to go faster to overtake.