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Denny's Paradox




If Capillary Waves are assumed to generate the momentum transfer to the water, the animal's legs must move faster than the Phase Speed c_m of the waves, given by
:c_m=\left(4g\sigma/ ho ight)^{1/4}
where g is the Gee , \sigma is the strength of Surface Tension , and ho the Density of Water . For standard conditions, this works out to be about 0.23 m/s.

Infant water striders' legs move at speeds much less than this and, according to this physical picture, cannot move. For a resolution of Denny's paradox, see Water Strider .