Izbrane teme sodobne fizike in matematike
Članek podaja fizikalni vpogled v tehnike, ki jih živali uporabljajo za hojo po vodi. Sprva se osredotoči na izpeljavo in razlago osnovnih enačb, potrebnih za opis gibanja na vodni gladini. Sledijo razlogi, zakaj lahko nekateri pajki in žuželke stojijo na vodi, ter opis njihovih tehnik hoje po vodi. Glavnina članka se osredotoči na velike hodce po vodi s poudarkom na hidrodinamskem modelu, ki se uporablja za opis hoje kuščarja baziliska (lat. Basiliscus basiliscus) po vodi. Na koncu je podana razlaga, zakaj človek ne more hoditi po vodi, predstavljenih pa je tudi nekaj rešitev, ki bi mu to morda lahko omogočile.
In this article, the main techniques used by creatures to move on the water surface and a physical insight into them are reviewed. Firstly, some basic equations, which are important for understanding the physics of walking on water, are derived. Secondly, attention is given to the ways used by arthropods to stand and walk on water. The main part of the article is dedicated to large water-walkers with an emphasis on a hydrodynamic model for a water-walking basilisk lizard. At the end, the reasons why a human is not able to walk on water are discussed, and some techniques that would enable humans to walk on water are described.