A few workweek ago we reported ona fun and favorable wagerbetween science communicator and creator of theVeritasium YouTube channelDerek Muller and UCLA prof of physics Alexander Kusenko . The compass point of argument between these two men was the chemical mechanism behind a Blackbird , an observational flatus - powered land racing yacht . The puzzling thing is that the fomite can move quicker than the wind that move it .
Muller bring out a video testing the blackbird and providing an explanation . But that did not sit well with Kusenko who got in soupcon to say that he dissent with the account . After some back and forth , the bet was placed .
Kusenko explanation for the seemingly counterintuitive phenomenon is that the wind changes . A strong gust of wind pushes the vehicle to a gamy speed and then it calm down a bit so when the car speed is measured against the tip , the car goes faster but it is in reality decelerating . Also , the wind speed at the height of the propellor might be stronger than the farting at the height at which is it measured .
“ I ’m aroused about this stake because if I am wrong then I need to know , ” Muller said inthe follow - up videodetailing the bet . “The whole dot to the canal is to get to the verity ! ”
Muller set out to answer the point raise by Kusenko but also to put up a right explanation . datum from many examination have show that the fomite still moves quicker than the fart , even at the height of the propellor and that when the Blackbird reached a criminal record - breaking hurrying of 2.8 times the wind , it was still speed .
So how does it work ? The propeller does n’t work as most citizenry think . Muller explains that it ’s not like a windmill , but more like a lover , push air backward . When the vehicle plunk up speed , the wheels turn the propellor in such a way that it crowd the vehicle forward . Although clash slows downs the wheel , the push from the propeller is much heavy , so the Blackbird move forward .
Muller goes onwards with the explanations show how this approach also happens in other setups unrelated to wind - power vehicles and he even got fellow YouTuberXyla Foxlinto craft a simulation ( several in reality ) that could demonstrate the downwind cart approaching on a treadmill . And Foxlin ’s cart did indeed work as expected accelerating faster than the salt mine .
“ Professor Kusenko has now conceded the wager and he transferred $ 10,000 to me . I want to thank him for being a mankind of accolade and interchange his head in Light Within of the evidence presented , ” Muller said in the YouTube video .
The money of the stakes will now be awarded to other science communicators as part of acompetitiondetailed on the Veritasium transmission channel .
