Smart Guru Test Time (SGTT) - When you see geese flying in a formation, why is it that one leg of the V is always longer than the other?

Friar Tuck

As each bird flaps it's wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in V formation, the whole flock has at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on it's own and it has been proved with other types of birds that they have slower heart rates when in formation. The longer side of the V is probably because of the prevailing wind direction. Jan 14 03, 12:27 AM

sequoianoir

One leg of the V HAS to be longer than the other leg in 50% of flying V formations due to the number of birds in it! Given that there is an even chance of the number of birds being EVEN or ODD! IF the V flight has an EVEN number of birds and there is one bird at the point of the V, then one side must contain at least one bird more than the other leg! Jan 14 03, 12:37 AM

Bryce

I think the answer is - Because it has more geese in it... Jan 14 03, 2:23 AM

Brainy Blonde

I think sometimes one leg is longer and sometimes it isn't. Canada Geese are graceful and smooth in their flight, appearing to glide through the air with easy and assurance. They fly in a loose, ever changing V-shaped formation, close to one another so that they may advantage of the slipstream effect of the bird ahead. The U.S. Air Force learned how from the wild goose. Flying in a V formation greatly reduces air resistance for both military planes and birds, allowing them to fly 71 percent further in formation than they could do otherwise. By positioning itself slightly to one side of the bird ahead, a goose, gets lift from air currents coming of the wings tips of the bird ahead. It is thought that the dominant gander of the flock leads the migration flight south in the fall. On the spring migration flight back, there is evidence that the dominant gander's mate leads the flock on the final leg of the flight to the nesting site. http://home.att.net/~j.mitchell/css4.htm When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it. When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into formation and another goose flies to the point position. The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. http://www.triangle.org/exponent/feb00.html Jan 14 03, 4:15 AM

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