On Aug 7, 2016, at 12:15 PM, Gerardo @neorigami.com <[email protected]> 
wrote:

I wanted to ask you, what are the mechanics behind the flapping bird?
Are they related with the simple machines? I couldn't find one that
fits.

Hi, Gerardo,

It seems that perhaps one simple machine that is similar would be the pulley. 
No, there aren’t any ropes or strings, but the tail and wings themselves could 
be thought of as “string” and the angle at the bottom of the wings could be 
thought of as the pulley.

You could probably also make an argument for seeing the wings and tail as 
“levers,” but they would be examples of two class 1 levers where the tail 
serves as one end for both of the levers and the angle at the bottom of the 
sings would be the fulcrum. I don’t think this fits as well as the pulley, 
however, because in order to flap the wings well, you must pull outward on it 
rather than rock it back and forth.

So, what do you (and others) think?

Judith

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