Question

How do birds fly? Discuss 1) the physics of flight – how do birds get off the ground, stay in the air, and land; 2) the physiology of flight, such as respiration; and 3) the adaptations for flight, identifying the 3 or 4 general categories of adaptations and discussing the structural, physiological, and neurological aspects of each (some adaptations may fall into more than 1 category). Part 2: What prevents flightless birds from flying?

Answer 1

Birds use their breast muscles to fly. They flap their wings using their strong breast muscles. This gives them the thrust to fly.

1)Physics of flying:

Can be explained using Bernoulli's principle. If the air flowing past the top surface of an a wing is moving faster than the air flowing past the bottom surface, then Bernoulli's principle says that the pressure on upper surfaceof the wing will be lower than below. This pressure difference results in an upwards lifting force.

Birds have light weight feathers, beaks, enlarged breast bones to which flight muscles are attached, bones are light and hollow. Bones have airsacs in between. Thy have a streamlined body. All of these reduces the force of weight.

Lift is created by reducing airpressure on top of wing. Larger wings produce greater lift than smaller wings. When a bird is gliding it doesn't have to flap their wings. Wings are held out towards their sides. When birds wings flap it propels them forward. When birds do upward stroke the bird passes through air with least resistance. down stroke of wings it causes lift and thrust.

Physiology of flight

Birds have high metabolic rates. High metabolism causes body of birds to be heated. This heat causes faster reflexes and greater muscle contraction for flying.

2) Respiratory system has nostril, the wind pipe, bronchi, two small lungs and number of air sacs. Birds inhale air t nostrils primary bronchi and reaches posterior air sacs. Then the bird exhales and inhales air from the posterior air sacs into the lungs. Then bird inhales air in lungs sothat it passes to anterior air sac. Then again exhales for the second time and the air is transported from the anterior air sacs out through its beak via the windpipe.

3) Adaptation of flight

_ Hollow bones reduce body weight

_feathers for insulation and water proofing

_light weight beaks than big jaw

_streamlined body

It's the forelimbs which is modified into wings.

Part 2

flat breastbones lack the keel that anchors the strong pectoral muscles required for flight. Their small wings can't lift their heavy bodies off the ground.