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Post by Atrox on May 12, 2016 21:48:08 GMT
Theoretically, on a planet with less gravity and a much thicker atmosphere, life could evolve a form of biological powered flight. I don't mean flapping wings though, imagine if we could create propeller birds or creatures like the Skewers from Alien Planet!
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The_Wayward_Admiral
Spacefaring
The_Real_Slim_Shady
Atrox drew this awesome image of the Keldori!
Posts: 1,011
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Post by The_Wayward_Admiral on May 13, 2016 0:55:18 GMT
I really like the skewers, perhaps on a gas giant that sort of thing could really take off (pun intended). Maybe if there were a creature which could use a powered system to tar off and then passively glide it could work on more massive planets.
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Post by Immortal_Dragon on May 13, 2016 14:36:46 GMT
I really like the skewers, perhaps on a gas giant that sort of thing could really take off (pun intended). Maybe if there were a creature which could use a powered system to tar off and then passively glide it could work on more massive planets. Having lighter gravity would also work too, less effort to get up in the air and all that.
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Post by Atrox on May 13, 2016 15:04:04 GMT
I think I read somewhere that the density of the atmosphere affects flight capabilities much more than gravity
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Post by Immortal_Dragon on May 13, 2016 15:28:52 GMT
I think I read somewhere that the density of the atmosphere affects flight capabilities much more than gravity I don't doubt it, but I'm sure having a lighter gravity wouldn't hurt developing flight.
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TheGraveKnight
Spacefaring
The Motivational Army is watching
Posts: 1,170
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Post by TheGraveKnight on May 13, 2016 15:58:50 GMT
I think I read somewhere that the density of the atmosphere affects flight capabilities much more than gravity I don't doubt it, but I'm sure having a lighter gravity wouldn't hurt developing flight. Well in order to achieve flight you have to overcome two things-weight and drag. In terms of weight, if you have less gravity, there`s less weight pushing down on you. So I think that less gravity would affect flight positively.
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Post by Immortal_Dragon on May 13, 2016 16:07:27 GMT
Well in order to achieve flight you have to overcome two things-weight and drag. In terms of weight, if you have less gravity, there`s less weight pushing down on you. So I think that less gravity would affect flight positively. That, was exactly what I was referring to. I was just agreeing with Atrox' own point as well.
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Post by early0000 on May 14, 2016 15:16:46 GMT
What if it just had some sort of compartment holding a lighter than air gas
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Post by Atrox on May 14, 2016 15:50:43 GMT
It'd have to be a really massive compartment compared to the rest of its body.
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Post by early0000 on May 14, 2016 16:32:28 GMT
It'd have to be a really massive compartment compared to the rest of its body. Depends on atmospheric thickness
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Post by Atrox on May 14, 2016 16:37:48 GMT
Depends on atmospheric thickness I think that'd depend more on gravity actually
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Post by Immortal_Dragon on May 14, 2016 17:56:46 GMT
Depends on atmospheric thickness I think that'd depend more on gravity actually Atmospheric composition is also something to consider. Since having a gas compartment usually means you're trying to be lighter than air, so just how "light" a planet's air is will affect the viability of such an adaptation.
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Post by early0000 on May 15, 2016 2:28:32 GMT
The strategy behind balloons and other gas comprised flying-machines is to become less dense than the air around it. If I were to have a super-dense atmosphere, a gas like helium would rise much faster than a normal atmosphere. Think of a hot air balloon; they heat the air in the balloon to become much less dense than the air around it. It's all just a matter of density; though, I am sure gravity also plays a role.
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