Flight 2

Question 1

What is thermal soaring ?

Answer 1

Convection currents are created by uneven heating of the ground
Used by birds

Question 2

What type of bird uses convection currents ?

Answer 2

Migratory birds (Turkey vulture)
Generate height before flying over the ocean.

Question 3

How do birds generate thrust ?

Answer 3

Flapping of wings in asymmetric motion

Question 4

What is hovering ?

Answer 4

Maintaining a stationary position in air.

Question 5

What are the 2 forms of hovering ?

Answer 5

True hovering

Wind hovering

Question 6

What is Wind hovering ?

Answer 6

The bird flies into a head wind, balancing their forward propulsion to stay stationary

Question 7

Which species used wind hovering ?

Answer 7

Osprey, when hunting for fish

Question 8

What is true hovering ?

Answer 8

Maintenance of stationary position using wing stroke.

Wing air foil shape is maintained in upward and downward stroke.

Question 9

Species which use true hovering, do not have a recovery stroke.
True or False ?

Answer 9

True, both flaps are for propulsion.

Question 10

What system of hovering do humming birds use ?

Answer 10

True hovering

Wing beat- 52 beats per second.

Question 11

Give the formula for wing loading.

Answer 11

Body weight/ Wing Area

Question 12

What is low wing loading ?

Answer 12

The bird will have a large wing area relative to its body weight

Question 13

What is high wing loading ?

Answer 13

The bird will have a small wing area relative to its body weight.

Question 14

What are the difficulties with high wing loading ?

Answer 14

As their body weight isn’t fully supported by their small wings will often have difficulties taking off.

Question 15

How do eagles overcome high wing loading ?

Answer 15

Jump off cliff to generate flight

Question 16

How do swans overcome high wing loading ?

Answer 16

Will run across the waters surface.

Question 17

Give the formula for aspect ratio ?

Answer 17

Wing area ^2/ Wing breadth

Question 18

Describe Elliptical shaped wings

Answer 18

Short, rounded wings with large wing slots.

Low aspect ratio

Question 19

What are the advantages of Elliptical shaped wings ?

Answer 19

Good manoeuvrability

Fast take off

Question 20

Describe the type of bird which will have Elliptical shaped wings.

Answer 20

Forest dwellers- manoeuvrable
(wood peckers)
Threatened by mammalian predation- Fast take off
(Pheasant, Grouse)

Question 21

Why do Elliptical shaped wings have large wing slots ?

Answer 21

Wings generate induced drag

Slots dissipate air as vortices are spread over a wider area.

Question 22

What are the disadvantages of Elliptical shaped wings ?

Answer 22

Generate huge induced drag

minimised by slotting of wings

Question 23

Describe High lift shaped wings.

Answer 23

Broad wings
Wing slots (reduced drag)
Moderate aspect ratio
Heavily cambered (curved)

Question 24

What is the advantage of High lift shaped wings ?

Answer 24

Able to carry heavy load with minimal energy loss

Excellent for soaring

Question 25

Which species have high lift shaped wings ?

Answer 25

Terrestrial soaring species | Eagles, vultures, storks

Question 26

Describe high speed shaped wings.

Answer 26

Wings swept back Slender tip No wing slots High aspect ratio

Question 27

What are the advantages for high speed shaped wings ?

Answer 27

Aerial feeding | Long migrations

Question 28

Why do high speed shaped wings have no slots ?

Answer 28

The wing shape itself reduces induced drag

Question 29

Give some species which have high speed shaped wings.

Answer 29

Swallows, Swifts, Shorebirds

Question 30

Give an incredible adaption of swifts

Answer 30

Able to micro sleep whilst flying | Only return to land to breed

Question 31

Describe the adaptions of birds who use soaring as a means of travel

Answer 31

Long narrow wings Now wing slots High aspect ratio Pointed wings- reduce drag when gliding

Question 32

What type of birds use soaring as a means of travel ?

Answer 32

Sea birds in a windswept environment | I.E. Albatross

Question 33

Give the 3 key functions of flight

Answer 33

Feeding, Courtship, Migration

Question 34

Give examples of species which are specially adapted for feeding whilst in flight

Answer 34

Hummingbirds- Drink nectar | Swifts and swallows

Question 35

Give 2 examples of bird groups which use flight for feeding ?

Answer 35

``` Predatory birds (track down prey) Scavengers (track carcass) ```

Question 36

Why is flight important in courtship ?

Answer 36

Enables displays, both singular and duets. | M&F in synchronisation

Question 37

Give an example of a species which migrates.

Answer 37

Willow Warbler Alaska to Sahara. 10,000 km

Question 38

Why are wings required for migration ?

Answer 38

Small mammals are unable to travel large distances | Wings are an effective method.

Question 39

What is are the benefits of migration ?

Answer 39

Can raise more offspring as there are longer daylight hours. | Able to utilise resources in disparate habitats

Question 40

Describe the typical migration cycle of a UK bird.

Answer 40

Migrate to hot climate such as Africa Will then migrate to equatorial zone to survive the winter Will return home to UK

Question 41

Describe the migration phenomena affecting the UK

Answer 41

Some species are no longer migrating as same food source available in the UK due to global warming Currently some species still migrating whilst others remain. One solution will prevail in time

Question 42

Describe the adaptions of underwater bird species.

Answer 42

``` Increased weight (gravitational force no longer an issue) Reduced buoyancy (2 dive) Smaller wings- steering role ```