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Why do dogs like to shake themselves dry besides a person rather than doing this as soon as they get out of the water? (continued)

Eric Kvaalen Les Essarts-le-Roi, France

Previous correspondence on this topic, describing the physics of the motion that dogs use to shake water off their wet fur, referred to the 鈥渃entripetal鈥� force caused by the movement.

鈥淐entripetal鈥� means seeking the centre, whereas 鈥渃entrifugal鈥� means fleeing the centre.

When a dog, for example, shakes off water, it is the centrifugal force that causes the water to go away from the dog. Centripetal force is what holds the water on the dog.

To answer this question 鈥� or ask a new one 鈥� email lastword@newscientist.com.

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