When we get caught in the rain, if we can’t find a place to take shelter, we often prefer to run instead of walking.
Or is it better to walk rather than run? Come on, let’s find the answer to this question with a little calculation.
Let’s open the topic with a Nasreddin Hodja joke you probably know:
Nasreddin Hodja is looking around at the window of his house on a day when it rains like a glass of water. Meanwhile, when he sees his neighbor running away from the rain, he wants to hang out for a bit: Neighbor, neighbor, aren’t you ashamed, why are you running away from Allah’s mercy?
His neighbor is embarrassed, he stops running and starts walking slowly. In the meantime, there is no place where the man does not get wet.
The next day is rainy again. This time, the person outside is Hodja. As he rushes home, his neighbor, who is inside, sees him this time and hangs out: Hodja Effendi, Hodja Effendi, you told me yesterday, “You can’t escape God’s mercy.” you said; Look, now you’re running away.”
Does the teacher stop, paste the answer: Man! I am not running away from Allah’s mercy, I am running in order not to violate Allah’s mercy.
According to the joke, it is necessary to run when it is raining. So what’s the answer according to science?
This subject will have attracted the attention of some physicists, mathematicians and engineers, as it has even become a research topic. Different results were found in different conditions:
- If the rain falls vertically on us or if the wind direction is opposite to the direction we are going, our best option is to run, so we get wet less.
- If the direction we are going and the wind direction are the same, it will be more logical to walk at a certain speed. The given velocity here is equal to the component of the wind velocity in the direction of motion.
Professor at the University of Brescia, Italy. Dr. Franco Bocci elaborated on this issue a little more:
According to the professor, wind direction is important, but the body structure of the person caught in the rain is also important. Whether we are weak, our optimum speed, the speed of the wind, the size of the raindrop, and even the angle between the wind direction and the road are important.
Judging by the combinations that emerge from these factors, sometimes it makes sense to walk at a certain pace, and sometimes it makes sense to run. However, it is often stated that running is the better option.
To run or not to run, that is the question!
But be careful not to step into puddles while running to avoid getting wet.
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4
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