Editing 620: Wings
Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
The edit can be undone.
Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision | Your text | ||
Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | [[Cueball]] explains to [[Megan]] that on Saturn's moon {{w|Titan (moon)|Titan}}, the combination of lower gravity and a denser atmosphere make the act of flying simpler. Wings that are only capable of generating 9% of the necessary lift | + | [[Cueball]] explains to [[Megan]] that on Saturn's moon {{w|Titan (moon)|Titan}}, the combination of lower gravity and a denser atmosphere make the act of flying simpler. Wings on earth that are only capable of generating 9% of the necessary lift would allow one to fly on Titan. |
− | Cueball | + | Cueball has already put together the apparatus necessary to test this: by using a pulley system to offset 91% of his weight, he can recreate the environment for flight on Titan. His wings are a success, and he uses them to fly around in a delighted fashion. Megan points out a fatal flaw: his wings use hot glue, which will soften and melt at high temperatures and [[Black Hat]] is waiting nearby with a powerful heat source. Naturally, Cueball falls. |
− | + | {{w|Icarus}} was a character in Greek mythology who is known his own self-powered flight, which ended when the wax holding his wings together melted and he fell to his death. This supposedly occurred because he ignored instructions not to fly too close to the Sun, a tragic example of hubris — extreme arrogance. Here, Black Hat is bringing an artificial "sun" to "Icarus" to recreate the tragedy. | |
− | + | Note that the calculated figure of 9% is only correct if the temperature on Titan has been raised to be the same as Earth — which, for human-powered flight, would probably be necessary anyway. At Titan's normal temperature, you would only have to generate about 3% of your Earth body weight in lift, as the atmosphere is much denser. | |
− | + | In the title text, Randall asks that xkcd readers do not attempt to reproduce this. The reason for this is explained here [[254: Comic Fragment]]. | |
− | |||
− | In the title text, Randall asks that xkcd readers do not attempt to reproduce this. The reason for this is explained [[254: Comic Fragment | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
Line 38: | Line 26: | ||
:[There is a heap of materials on the ground. Cueball is holding a stage harness.] | :[There is a heap of materials on the ground. Cueball is holding a stage harness.] | ||
− | :[Large diagram of a bridge | + | :[Large diagram of a bridge. A rope leads through pulleys tied to the bridge. One end goes to Cueball, one end to a pile of bricks.] |
:[Cueball is standing with wings attached to his arms.] | :[Cueball is standing with wings attached to his arms.] |