Biomimicry is the practice of looking to nature for inspiration to solve design problems. Shown below are plants and animals (top row) that have inspired the design of products (bottom row). Which of the options listed below correctly identifies the plant and/or animal with the product that it inspired?
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Biomimicry questions often feature classic examples. Remembering a few key pairings like Kingfisher/Bullet Train, Gecko/Adhesives, and Burdock/Velcro can help you solve them quickly.
Step 1: Understanding the Concept: The question requires matching four examples of nature with the four technologies they inspired. This is a general knowledge question in the field of design and biomimicry.
Step 2: Key Formula or Approach: We need to identify the link between the natural object and the man-made product for each pair.
P: Kingfisher. A bird known for diving into water with minimal splash. Q: Whale. Specifically, the flippers of a humpback whale, which have bumps called tubercles. R: Gecko. A lizard famous for its ability to climb smooth vertical surfaces. S: Burdock burr. A seed pod that clings to fur and clothing using tiny hooks.
1: Person climbing a glass wall. This suggests advanced adhesion technology. 2: Velcro (hook and loop fastener). A common fastening material. 3: Shinkansen Bullet Train. A high-speed train from Japan. 4: Wind turbine blade. The blade of a modern wind turbine.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation: Let's make the matches:
P (Kingfisher) -> 3 (Bullet Train): The nose of the Shinkansen bullet train was redesigned to mimic the shape of a kingfisher's beak. This design significantly reduced the sonic boom created when the train exited tunnels and also reduced power consumption. So, the match is P-3. Q (Whale) -> 4 (Wind Turbine): The tubercles on the leading edge of a humpback whale's flippers help it maintain lift and avoid stalling at steep angles of attack. This principle was applied to the design of wind turbine blades to make them more efficient and stable. So, the match is Q-4. R (Gecko) -> 1 (Adhesive technology): The gecko's ability to climb smooth surfaces is due to millions of microscopic hairs on its feet that use van der Waals forces. This has inspired the development of super-strong, reusable, dry adhesives, enabling things like climbing glass walls. So, the match is R-1. S (Burdock burr) -> 2 (Velcro): The Swiss engineer George de Mestral invented Velcro after examining burdock burrs that stuck to his dog's fur. He replicated the burr's tiny hooks and combined them with a fabric loop system. So, the match is S-2. Combining these matches gives us: P-3, Q-4, R-1, S-2. Step 4: Final Answer: The correct set of matches is P-3, Q-4, R-1, S-2, which corresponds to option (C).
