Slow Motion Flipping Cat Physics | Smarter Every Day 58
SmarterEveryDay3 HN recommenders · recommended in 3 months, 2012–2023
explainer · general · evergreen · 2012–2023 on HN
Destin of Smarter Every Day films a cat falling in high-speed slow motion to show how cats right themselves in midair, and introduces the physics behind it.
HN recommends it as a good visual explanation of how cats land on their feet.
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3 comments from Hacker News
> the exact mechanics of the animal’s righting reflex are still not completely understood. I don't think this is true anymore. They move their head and tail to rotate themselves upright, and due to their low weight their terminal velocity is not fatal. This video has a good explanation of the process, ▶ this video Squirrels use a similar technique, Mark Rober has made some good videos explaining that.
You'd just see some blinding white light for a few seconds and then maybe nothing else for the rest of your life. Our human eyes and brains limit us from perceiving even everyday things with the majesty they deserve. Even popping water balloons looks amazing in high speed video. On YouTube, there is a community of people doing silly things with high speed cameras that makes for stimulating watching: Smarter Every Day: weird glass phenomenon link Smarter Every Day: cat righting itself in midair ▶ this video Lots of high speed videos link
I think it's cos they don't want to get hurt landing on their back. Now how they do it is a different question all together. Ps, awesome video ▶ this video , article is pretty useless.