dagblog - Comments for "Giving Mega Shark his due"

It all makes sense now.

acanuck — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:59:44 +0000

In reply to MegaShark uses the jet-fuel

It all makes sense now. Thanks.

MegaShark uses the jet-fuel

Nebton — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:15:17 +0000

In reply to Oh, you mean MegaShark! I was

MegaShark uses the jet-fuel found in airplanes as an alternative energy source to just using his tail. Not to go in to too much detail, but MegaShark:jet-fuel::cows:methane. You do the math. Naturally, that also answers your last question.

Oh, you mean MegaShark! I was

acanuck — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:49:32 +0000

In reply to You dare to doubt

Oh, you mean MegaShark! I was thinking of plain, old run-of-the-mill Mega-Shark. Yeah, that guy could probably do it.

But I never said 700 km/h was supersonic, just that his tail would have to be moving supersonically to move him forward that fast. I'd think cavitation problems alone would make that tail really inefficient.

As for your third point: If MegaShark is so smart, why is he eating airplanes? They aren't food. Even the food inside airplanes isn't food.

You dare to doubt

Nebton — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:11:37 +0000

In reply to Admit it, Nebbie. You posted

You dare to doubt MegaShark?

First, MegaShark surely must be made of stern stuff (which is why I think the larger tonnage I used in my update is more likely to be accurate), so I don't worry about his midair collision with the plane. I do wonder how the plane managed to make it to the ocean mainly intact, however.

Secondly, 700 kph is not even supersonic in air, let alone in water. (Sound travels faster in water than in air. In air, supersonic is a little over 1200 kph, but it's over 5300 kph in water.)

Finally, have you seen the size of MegaShark's head? Can you imagine the size of his brain cavity? No, he's obviously smart enough to not only calculate the required speed to catch the plane in mid-air, but to prove Fermat's last theorem while he's at it.

Admit it, Nebbie. You posted

acanuck — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:31:44 +0000

In reply to Giving Mega Shark his due

Admit it, Nebbie. You posted this entire thing so you could use the word Kill-o-Joules. Shameless!

You've dazzled us with data, but I've got some lingering suspicions. My gut tells me that, even breaking the water's surface at 700 km/h, Mega-Shark decelerates to a stop before reaching 2,000 metres. I'll defer to your math skills here, but even if the creature is still moving upward, the faster-moving plane surely takes Mega-Shark's head off.

Then there's the question of how Mega-Shark can wag its tail fast enough -- underwater! -- to reach 700 km/h. The problem is not the resistance to its streamlined body but to a tail surface moving side to side at supersonic speed, no? Not to mention the mental acumen Mega-Shark would need to calculate its intersection with a moving target, seen through watery eyes over a mile straight up. Remember that Mega-Shark has only his tail and three stubby fins to try to adjust his trajectory after he leaves the water.

No, I can buy the movie's basic premise, but this plane-devouring incident strains credibility.

More stew?

quinn esq — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:56:31 +0000

In reply to Giving Mega Shark his due

More stew?

I cannot thank you enough for

quinn esq — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:06:22 +0000

In reply to Giving Mega Shark his due

I cannot thank you enough for this, Nebton.

I'm going to go ask Genghis to give you an extra helping of stew tonight.

Blessings be upon you.