Physical Constraints in Sensory Ecology
11
Surface area
Prolate a
Oblate a
Diffusion
Prolate a
Oblate a
Drag
Prolate a
Oblate a
Contours are surface area of the body
relative to an equal-volume sphere.
Largest surface area occurs with
oblate or disk-like shapes:
0
Contours are diffusion coefficient of the body
relative to an equal-volume sphere.
Largest rate of diffusion occurs with spheres:
tO
Smallest sinking rate with random orientations occurs
w;th pml•te oc cod-Uke • h • p e /
Contours are hydrodynamic drag of the body
relative to an equal-volume sphere.
Smallest drag occurs with prolate or rod-like shapes
of axial ratio 1.952 moving along the long axis:
Largest drag occurs with prolate or rod-like shapes
moving perpendicular to the long axis:
1