Uploaded January 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
University of Oxford Mathematician Dr Tom Crawford explains how to mathematically calculate the fastest dinosaur. Its the Maths of Dinosaurs!
Using a mathematical formula which gives the top speed of a land-based animal, we use the tools of calculus to determine the ideal mass to maximise velocity. Too small and the animal does not have enough capacity to go quickly, but too big and it cannot accelerate quickly enough to reach its theoretical maximum speed. The location of the 'sweet spot' in the middle is found by calculating the turning point of the velocity function. The solution is then applied to dinosaurs to determine which is the fastest.
Check out the table of all calculated top speeds here: tomrocksmaths.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/table2.pdf
The formula for the top speed is taken from the work of Myriam Hirt - link to publication below.
Hirt, M.R., Jetz, W., Rall, B.C. et al. A general scaling law reveals why the largest animals are not the fastest. Nat Ecol Evol 1, 1116–1122 (2017). doi.org/10.1038/s41559-017-0241-4
Filmed on location at Lourinha Dino Park in Portugal.
Produced by Dr Tom Crawford at the University of Oxford. Tom is Public Engagement Lead at the Oxford University Department of Continuing Education: conted.ox.ac.uk
For more maths content check out Tom's website tomrocksmaths.com
You can also follow Tom on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @tomrocksmaths. facebook.com/tomrocksmaths
twitter.com/tomrocksmaths
instagram.com/tomrocksmaths
Get your Tom Rocks Maths merchandise here:
beautifulequation.com/collections/tom-rocks-maths
Thanks to
Lourinha Dino Park
Steve Sheridan youtube.com/watch?v=aKYLA-9kcKM
Wildest Nature youtube.com/watch?v=9Vpg5yQ5pVE
Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre youtube.com/watch?v=OL0dNL3lOzg
University of Oxford Mathematician Dr Tom Crawford explains how to mathematically calculate the fastest dinosaur. Its the Maths of Dinosaurs!
Using a mathematical formula which gives the top speed of a land-based animal, we use the tools of calculus to determine the ideal mass to maximise velocity. Too small and the animal does not have enough capacity to go quickly, but too big and it cannot accelerate quickly enough to reach its theoretical maximum speed. The location of the 'sweet spot' in the middle is found by calculating the turning point of the velocity function. The solution is then applied to dinosaurs to determine which is the fastest.
Check out the table of all calculated top speeds here: tomrocksmaths.files.wordpress.com/2024/01/table2.pdf
The formula for the top speed is taken from the work of Myriam Hirt - link to publication below.
Hirt, M.R., Jetz, W., Rall, B.C. et al. A general scaling law reveals why the largest animals are not the fastest. Nat Ecol Evol 1, 1116–1122 (2017). doi.org/10.1038/s41559-017-0241-4
Filmed on location at Lourinha Dino Park in Portugal.
Produced by Dr Tom Crawford at the University of Oxford. Tom is Public Engagement Lead at the Oxford University Department of Continuing Education: conted.ox.ac.uk
For more maths content check out Tom's website tomrocksmaths.com
You can also follow Tom on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @tomrocksmaths. facebook.com/tomrocksmaths
twitter.com/tomrocksmaths
instagram.com/tomrocksmaths
Get your Tom Rocks Maths merchandise here:
beautifulequation.com/collections/tom-rocks-maths
Thanks to
Lourinha Dino Park
Steve Sheridan youtube.com/watch?v=aKYLA-9kcKM
Wildest Nature youtube.com/watch?v=9Vpg5yQ5pVE
Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre youtube.com/watch?v=OL0dNL3lOzg
