What is the speed and velocity of a swallow flying north?

Answer 1

The common swift can reach 220km/hr in a dive: http://www.commonswift.org/FAQ_english.html

This makes it one of Europe's fastest birds, capable of outflying even a peregrine or a hobby. Only the hobby can maneouvre fast enough to catch a swift.

By comparison the cruising speed of an (unladen!) (European) swallow is around 38km/hr. http://www.style.org/unladenswallow/

Answer 2

The speed at which it hits the wall and breaks its neck.

Actually it depends on the shape and structure of the sparrow. Specifically it has to do with how much air resistance the sparrow creates while falling.

Answer 3

African or European?

In fluid dynamics an object is moving at its terminal velocity if its speed is constant due to the restraining force exerted by the air, water or other fluid through which it is moving.

A free-falling object achieves its terminal velocity when the downward force of gravity (Fg) equals the upward force of drag (Fd). This causes the net force on the object to be zero, resulting in an acceleration of zero.[1]

As the object accelerates (usually downwards due to gravity), the drag force acting on the object increases, causing the acceleration to decrease. At a particular speed, the drag force produced will equal the object's weight (mg). At this point the object ceases to accelerate altogether and continues falling at a constant speed called terminal velocity (also called settling velocity). Terminal velocity varies directly with the ratio of weight to drag. More drag means a lower terminal velocity, while increased weight means a higher terminal velocity. An object moving downward with greater than terminal velocity (for example because it was affected by a downward force or it fell from a thinner part of the atmosphere or it changed shape) will slow until it reaches terminal velocity.

The swallows and martins have an evolutionary conservative body shape which is similar across the family but is unlike that of other passerines.[2] Swallows have adapted to hunting insects on the wing by developing a slender streamlined body and long pointed wings, which allow great maneuverability and endurance, as well as frequent periods of gliding. Their body shape allows for very efficient flight, which costs 50-75% less for swallows than equivalent passerines of the same size. Swallows usually forage at around 30-40 km/h, although they are capable of reaching speeds of between 50-65 km/h when traveling. The bill of the Sand Martin is typical for the family, being short and wide.

Like the unrelated swifts and nightjars, which hunt in a similar way, they have short bills, but strong jaws and a wide gape. Their body length ranges from about 10-24 cm (3.9-9.4 in) and their weight from about 10-60 g (0.35-2.1 oz). The wings are long, pointed, and have nine primary feathers. The tail has 12 feathers and may be deeply forked, somewhat indented, or square-ended. A long tail increases maneuverability, and may also function as a sexual adornment, since the tail is frequently longer in males. Female Barn Swallows will select mates on the basis of tail length.

Answer 4

Well is it an African or a European swallow?

Answer 5

the phrase "airspeed velocity of a swallow".