Feline Terminal Velocity?

[Andy9o8 2]

You read that right. I need a bullshit detector ruling here.

2 whuffo friends of mine swear that the average cat's terminal velocity in freefall is only 60mph-ish, when accounting for kitty's mass vs. surface area, etc. - and the crap I find on the internet all seems to repeat that figure.

I need an answer (not a guess) from people in here who actually know how to figure that out reliably.

No foil hat blather; I need the real deal. The future of Mankind depends on this.

ETA: Oh! And a link to an authoritative source would be all the more helpful (I hope).

2nd ETA: I'm hoping to refute the 60mph theory, i.e., to show it's faster. Say, some engineer willing to whore him/herself.

[labrys 0]

http://www.radiolab.org/2010/sep/20/

Starting at 24 minutes

Owned by Remi #?

[ryoder 1,590]

I expect a cut of the fees for the case you are working on.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17492802

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[muff528 3]

This one says 56mph. But I suppose that depends on what suit he's wearing.

[rehmwa 2]

there's no substitute for direct testing.

I'd make the claim that you have access to:

a jump plane
cats
a couple Pro-Tracks
duct tape (or a stapler)

do your own homework. wear gloves and have neosporin handy.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Andy9o8 2]

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I expect a cut of the fees for the case you are working on.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17492802

I already read this f&%$#@ story. It says 60 mph. I need authority to refute that, i.e., to show it's faster. (Think, "Hold my beer and watch this.")

[rehmwa 2]

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I expect a cut of the fees for the case you are working on.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17492802

I already read this f&%$#@ story. It says 60 mph. I need authority to refute that, i.e., to show it's faster. (Think, "Hold my beer and watch this.")

If you were to duct tape each paw to a bowling ball, would that change the results?

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[ryoder 1,590]

Wait a minute...Are you organizing a Cat Chasing Competition?

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[Andy9o8 2]

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Wait a minute...Are you organizing a Cat Chasing Competition?

Well if a kat's all floaty, there's no real chase.

[ryoder 1,590]

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Wait a minute...Are you organizing a Cat Chasing Competition?

Well if a kat's all floaty, there's no real chase.

I'm sure someone can make a kitty weight-vest for you.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[labrys 0]

http://c21.phas.ubc.ca/article/falling-cats

Here's one with actual calculations that puts a human at 56m/s (125mph) and a cat at 35m/s (78 mph)

It uses reasonable assumptions about the cross sectional size of the cat, IMO

Owned by Remi #?

[rehmwa 2]

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Wait a minute...Are you organizing a Cat Chasing Competition?

Well if a kat's all floaty, there's no real chase.

I'm sure someone can make a kitty weight-vest for you.

no, that makes them front heavy and they tip forward too much. Pretty much everycat is using lead belts now. The real XtrEmE cutting edge cats use bowling balls and duct tape, I believe.

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[rehmwa 2]

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It uses reasonable assumptions about the cross sectional size of the cat, IMO

cats really hate being cross sectioned - wear gloves and have ointment handy

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[labrys 0]

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cats really hate being cross sectioned - wear gloves and have ointment handy

Owned by Remi #?

[skydivecat 3]

my average fall rate is 120mph

[ryoder 1,590]

I've heard that if you jump with a cat, (unless it has been de-clawed), it's terminal velocity will be exactly the same as yours.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[Andy9o8 2]

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my average fall rate is 120mph

Well there we go

[adagen 0]

If you look at any of the calculations, they assume the cat is wearing a wingsuit. Look at how they determine the area it presents to the wind. Obviously, a cat will fall faster if it's not wearing a wingsuit.

Anne

[quade 4]

How well do you know the operators at your local vertical wind tunnel?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[ryoder 1,590]

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How well do you known the operators at your local vertical wind tunnel?

Oh, we need to see the video!

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[wolfriverjoe 1,523]

I have no facts or figures, but anecdotal information says that terminal for a cat is pretty slow.

There's quite a few high fall survivals that are pretty amazing.
And there's a "dead zone" for lower falls.

It seems like a cat can survive a low fall as if it jumped down.
A fall that is too high to land from a jump will injure or kill it. The position it assumes during the acceleration part (kind of spread-eagled) keeps it from being able to land well.

BUT...
Once it reaches terminal and can't feel the "fall" anymore, it resumes a normal body position and can survive the landing, sometimes with a broken jaw from it's face hitting the ground, sometimes unhurt.

The "dead zone" is from 1 to 2 stories up. They usually don't survive a fall of that height.
But they often do survive from 3 stories or higher.

"There are NO situations which do not call for a French Maid outfit." Lucky McSwervy

"~ya don't GET old by being weak & stupid!" - Airtwardo

[ryoder 1,590]

I suspect a shaved pussy would go down faster.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[Andy9o8 2]

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I suspect a shaved pussy would go down faster.

I suspect you've got the syntax slightly garbled.

[MikeJD 0]

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How well do you know the operators at your local vertical wind tunnel?

If you're taking a cat into a wind tunnel, I hope you're going to fit it with earplugs.

[Andy9o8 2]

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How well do you know the operators at your local vertical wind tunnel?

If you're taking a cat into a wind tunnel, I hope you're going to fit it with earplugs.

Don't wanna have a cat-astrophe.