Why is it that when you try to smack a fly you have a better chance of getting it if you move slowly rather then quickly?

BRY2K

The trick is in the venting: The venting allows the flyswatter to move more quickly through the air, making it easier to hit a fast-moving target such as a fly. The venting also allows the flyswatter to get closer to the fly before it is detected, as flies can sense the change in air pressure caused by an approaching solid object. With the vents in it, the flyswatter usually gets close enough to the fly that when it is finally detected by the fly's pressure-sense or its eyes, it is too late for the fly to escape. The long handle allows a lot of force to be distributed to the mesh end. The venting on the mesh end allows the flyswatter to move more quickly through the air, making it easier to hit a fast-moving target such as a fly. Flies can sense the change in air pressure caused by an approaching solid object - which is why newspapers and t-shirts. With the holes in the mesh, the flyswatter usually gets close enough to the fly that when it is finally detected by the fly's pressure-sense or its eyes, it is too late for the fly to escape. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyswatter Jul 13 08, 8:13 AM

zbeckabee

I'm not all that sure that "speed" matters: Flies only have two eyes, but they are multi-faceted. These "compound eyes" allow flies to see movement very easily, which is why it is so hard to kill them with a fly swatter. http://druniverse.wsu.edu/QandA.asp?questionID=60229 Houseflies have large compound eyes. Compound eyes cannot be focused--so flies see everything as a blurry image. However, compound eyes see things very quickly. Flies can immediately detect even the slightest movement. This gives them a chance to escape from predators. It is also why it is so difficult to hit them with a flyswatter. http://www.uen.org/utahlink/activities/view_activity.cgi?activity_id=1026 Jul 13 08, 2:27 PM