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Has a bird of any species ever been seen experiencing an aerodynamic stall by increasing the angle of attack (AoA) over its wings or flying at too low of an airspeed?

User Nogard
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Final answer:

Birds, like airplanes, use wings as aerofoils for flight and can theoretically experience aerodynamic stalls. They have evolved lightweight structures such as hollow bones to facilitate efficient flight, and utilize their body orientation and wind to improve dynamic flight.

Step-by-step explanation:

Birds employ wings that function similarly to aerofoils found on airplanes, with a curved surface to aid in flight by controlling air currents. Like aircraft, birds can also experience an aerodynamic stall if the angle of attack over their wings becomes too steep or if they fly at too low an airspeed, although observations of such events are rare and not well-documented in scientific literature.

Birds have evolved several adaptations that aid in flying, such as hollow or pneumatic bones, to reduce body weight, which is crucial for efficient flight. Moreover, birds are known to manipulate their body orientation and use the force exerted by the wind to their advantage, increasing their net force forward and reducing air resistance during flight.

Understanding these principles can provide insight into how and why wings and flight evolved, which is an ongoing area of research. Fossils and the study of living vertebrates with flight capabilities, such as bats, continue to inform scientists about the complexities of flight in the animal kingdom.

User Sandie
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