Steven Vogel, Duke University

Pumping and Jumping: Toward Simple Rules for Creatures Big and Small

Friday Febuary 15th, 4pm, Phillips 383
Note different location!
(refreshments served in Phillips 330 starting at 3:30)

Abstract:
The parts of organisms that pump liquids or throw projectiles range 100,000-fold in length. And these outputs serve diverse tasks. Two devices help us discern order amid this complexity. We can seek matches between predicted and empirical scaling exponents--an approach familiar to biologists. Or we can contrive dimensionless indices, of especial value because they have no residual length dimensions. We use those latter (but not necessarily the usual indices) too rarely, given their proven utility in the hands of engineers.