046 047 However, it’s clear that through the pandemic, the Executive was freely able to violate individual rights of millions in the UK, potentially harming family relationships and leading to long-lasting social issues. The most worrying part of this, as discussed earlier, is that there was no debate or scrutiny in checking the government’s actions as they ruled over the lives of everyone. Between March 2020 and August 2021, Boris’s Executive acted wholly immaturely. They passed over 580 pieces of covid related secondary legislation, most of which was drawn up by unelected special advisers like Dominic Cummings – who faced no accountability. It’s disconcertedly evident that the government was able to exploit features of our constitution and as such, built up a culture in society that completely lacks faith in parliament and politics in general. Sadly, little has been done to restore this faith since Covid. The Executive still seeks to avoid scrutiny; around 3500 SIs are passed per year on average. Clearly, this exhibits an out-dated backwards system, not fit for a progressive country like Britain. Answering our original question, legislation passed by the Executive during Covid times did put certain principles of our democracy at risk. It also created confusion and worry surrounding very simple human rights. However, due to the current system, it was done so legally. If nothing else, this shows how our democracy is far from perfect. Democracy never will be perfect, but it can be better, and a good start would be addressing issues raised in this article. Answering our original ques%on, legisla%on passed by the Execu%ve during covid %mes did put certain principles of our democracy at risk. It also created confusion and worry surrounding very simple human rights. However, due to the current system, it was done so legally. If nothing else, this shows our democracy is far from perfect. r cy never will be perfect, but it can be Jer, and good start would be addressing issues raised in this r%cle. How do sharks make aviation greener? Benjamin Watson It may not be obvious that sharks have influence on plane design, but they do. In this article I will discuss my findings on a key shark feature and how this impacts plane design and results in a significant reduction in our planet’s CO2 emissions. The first question I will answer is, what could sharks and planes possibly have in common? Some might say that their only obvious commonality is their fins perhaps, but there can be another - sharkskin. You may assume that a shark’s skin is just simply skin, however each species of shark has a unique pattern, made up of bump like structures called denticles, and it is these that enable sharks to swim through water at incredible speeds. Planes have adapted this design through something called ‘sharkskin technology’. The aim of the technology is to reduce drag, meaning that less fuel is needed to propel a plane forward, which in turn decreases carbon-based pollution. Looking at the structure of sharkskin is key to this solution. The skin of sharks is covered in many thousands of these denticles, such as those shown below: The indents in these denticles are called riblets, and in planes and sharks they decrease drag. They do this by manipulating the airflow that surrounds planes during flight. Each riblet in a sheet of sharkskin technology causes the surface of the plane to rise by only 50 micrometres. Despite how small these things are, they create grooves that can channel the airflow passing over them. Imagine it like water reaching a dam - the water has nowhere to go but through the channel towards it. The air in our atmosphere acts exactly like this. However, water cannot travel upwards, but air can. So, what stops the air from flying out of these grooves? Well, this is because of a concept explained by Bernoulli’s Principle. Bernoulli’s Principle is defined as “an increase in the speed of a fluid occur[ing] simultaneously with a decrease in pressure.” What this means is that as the air hits the grooves and increases in speed, the pressure will decrease throughout. This makes the air stick inside the grooves as the few micrometres of air within them have a low pressure compared to the rest of the air. This pressure difference keeps the air contained. How do Sharks make Aviation Greener? It may not be obvious that sharks have influence on plane design, but they do. In this article I will discuss my findings on a key shark feature and how this impacts plane design and results in a significant reduction in our planet’s CO2 emissions. The first question I will answer is, what could sharks and planes possibly have in common? Some might say that their only obvious commonality is their fins perhaps, but there can be another - sharkskin. You may assume that a shark’s skin is just simply skin, however each species of shark has a unique pattern, made up of bump like structures called denticles, and it is these that enable sharks to swim through water at incredible speeds. Planes have adapted this design through something called ‘sharkskin technology’. The aim of the technology is to reduce drag, meaning that less fuel is needed to propel a plane forward, which in turn decreases carbon-based pollution. Looking at the structure of sharkskin is key to this solution. The skin of sharks is covered in many thousands of these denticles, such as those shown below: The indents in these denticles are called riblets, and in planes and sharks they decrease drag. They do this by manipulating the airflow that surrounds planes during flight. Each riblet in a sheet of sharkskin technology causes the surface of the plane to rise by only 50 micrometres. Despite how small these things are, they create grooves that can channel the airflow passing over them. Imagine it like water reaching a dam - the water has nowhere to go but through the channel towards it. The air in our atmosphere acts exactly like this. However, water cannot travel upwards, but air can. So, tops the air f om flying out f hese grooves? W ll, this is becau e of concept explained by Bernoulli’s P i cip e. Ber oulli’s Principle i defined as “An increase in the speed of a fluid occur[ing] simultaneously with a decrease in pr ssure.” What thi m ans is t at as the air hits the grooves and incr ases in speed, the p ssure will d crease throughout. This makes the air stick ins de the groov s as the few microm tres f air within them have a low pressure compared to the rest of the air. This p ssure diffe nce keeps the air contained. A way to think about this is if you were running beneath an infinitely long train travelling extremely fast. You cannot possibly escape above because the train is too strong and fast, so you must keep running forward. Another side effect of these groove-like patterns is that, as Representative model of the shark denticle. (a) Top, (b) side and (c) isometric view of a representative model of a shark denticle, along with the corresponding geometric parameters. (d) A tilt angle of 15° was used here
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