3 ms·
> Then if the cat still doesn't right itself, it seems like it is using acceleration rather than vision to determine which way is down. This is not possible be
by cecilpl2 5y ago
> Then if the cat still doesn't right itself, it seems like it is using acceleration rather than vision to determine which way is down.
This is not possible because objects (including cats) in freefall do not experience the sensation of acceleration.
- true_religion 5y agoBefore a cat (or any object) experiences free fall, they experience acceleration so they know which way gravity is pulling them. Surely, a cat can remember what happened to it in the last few seconds and instinctually put its feet in that direction?
- throwawayben 5y agoYou don't feel any acceleration from gravity - it can only be determined from other senses like vision or the air flowing over your skin/fur
- true_religion 5y agoWhat about inner ear sensations? Or the pressure of your organs pushing against one another?
- cecilpl2 5y agoNone of the above. This is because every atom in your body is accelerating at the same rate, so there's no pressure involved.
- haneul 5y agoThis is possible because in free fall on earth, there are directionality signals when blinded - for example, air resistance.
- smaudet 5y agoI think that's the point, they do not experience acceleration in zero g, which is the point of testing visual/aerial cues, which DO remain in free fall (electric fans, horizons). I'm fairly sure you just read this backwards, thought I'd explain better. This is interesting because, it provides information on how the cat brain might function - if they have accelerometers embedded in their brains, that is quite interesting, but somewhat unlikely (birds have magnetic sensors, not impossible or unprecedented), if, perhaps more likely, they have incredibly sensitive hearing or sensation on their fur, which they interpret as acceleration, that is also interesting, in a different way.