Oak Grove Berkeley Swim

A. Measure the fineness ratio. The fineness ratio is a measure of how streamlined a body is. Streamlined bodies have low drag. Drag is the force that slows the body down. The fineness ratio equals the length divided by the maximum diameter. The best value is near 4.5. Fineness ratio = Length / Diameter	Here is our fish. It is a mackerel! Its fineness ratio was EXACTLY 4.5 !!! It probably has VERY LOW drag.
B. Our questions: 1. When your animal moves forward which parts move? 2. When an animal moves forward which parts push? How do these parts push the animal forward? How do these parts push the animal upward? 3. When an animal moves what slows down its movement? Describe how parts of the animal may slow it down less because of their shape or form.	This picture shows Professor Full moving the fish side to side. Professor Full is explaining how the fish moves by using undulation. We discovered how all the fins fold very flat next to the body. This activity was very fun because we got to really see how a slimy fish moves using undulation and maybe with a hydrofoil.
This picture is of Angelica listening to Professor Full explain how the fish moves.
Here is the Swimming Design Team giving their presentation.

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Last updated 6/23/99