Science Nation: The Secret of a Snake's Slither
Snakes certainly make it look easy when they slither forward, leaving perfect S-curve tracks behind them, but scientists have long been puzzled by the mechanics of their locomotion. Now, after a series of experiments and some computer modeling, David Hu has cracked the case. With funding from the National Science Foundation, he’s using math to determine how snakes slither and it turns out they move in a much different way than scientists have long thought.
Media Details
Runtime: 5 minutes 8 seconds
- Topic: Science
- Subtopic: Animal Behavior, Physiology, Reptiles
- Grade/Interest Level: 7 - 12
- Standards:
- Release Year: 2009
- Producer/Distributor: National Science Foundation
- Series: Science Nation
- Report a Problem
Related Media
Science Nation: Doppler on Wheels--The Biggest 'Dish' on the Road
Science Nation: Testing the Waters--1,4-Dioxane in North Carolina's Cape Fear River Basin
Science Nation: Hydraulic Fracturing--Using Scientific Methods to Evaluate Trade-Offs
Science Nation: Giving Robots and Prostheses the Human Touch
Science Nation: CASA Radar Tracks Tornadoes
Science Nation: Biophotonics Poised to Make Major Breakthroughs in Medicine
Science Nation: Off the Water Grid--Energy Efficient and Sustainable
Science Nation: Could a "Thinking Cap" Help Us Learn?
Science Nation: Arctic Soils Key to Future Climate
Science Nation: Hunting for the WIMPS of the Universe