2019年美赛优秀论文 Long May They Reign: How Majestic Dragons Can Survive In...

杨利霞

2019年美赛优秀论文 Long May They Reign: How Majestic

Dragons Can Survive In The New Realm

The dragon has always been imagined by people in both East and West . If a dragon
lives in our world, it will be very meaningful and interesting to study its characteristics
and interaction with ecosystem.
First, the basic physical characteristics of the dragon are studied. According to the
growth characteristics of creatures, we establish the Dragon’s Weight Logistic Growth
Model. On the basis of this model, it is estimated that the weight of a mature dragon
is between 10 tons and 20 tons. Then, by using the mechanics knowledge and analogy
method , we analogize the trunk of the dragon to the elastic cylinder and estimate that the
length of the trunk of the mature dragon is about 4 meters to 6 meters and that the length
of the whole body of the mature dragon is about 20 meters to 35 meters. Secondly, we
analyze the daily energy intake and expenditures of the dragon. Comparing the dragon
with the creatures that have similar characteristics, we estimate the daily energy intake
and diet of the dragon, and the rate of energy consumption during its flflight. In addition,
given the conditions of breathing fifire, we establish the Dragon’s Fire Chemical Kinetics
Model so as to analyze the mechanism and energy consumption of breathing fifire.Thirdly,
on the basis of the results above, we consider the minimum requirement of the habitat for
maintaining the dragon. In order to analyze the impact of the dragon on the ecosystem,
we establish the Dragon-Sheep-Habitat Model based on the Logistic model. More impor
tantly, we compare the difference of the resources for maintaining a dragon in arid, warm
temperate and arctic regions, and analyze the living status of the dragon in these regions.
What’s more, in the sensitivity analysis, we focus on three factors, namely the inherent
growth rate of a dragon’s weight, environmental factors and environmental temperature,
in order to analyze their impacts on the weight of a mature dragon as they change. Finally,
we write a letter to George R.R. Martin, the author of A Song of Ice and Fire, to provide some
advice on maintaining the realistic ecological basis of the story. Although the dragon does
not exist in the real world, the models established in this paper can also be applied to solve
the problem about the growth of dinosaurs, the invasion of alien species and the design of
new flflamethrowers.
Note: To avoid copyright infringement, we draw and generate all the fifigures on our own.
Keywords: Physical Characteristics; Energy Expenditures and Caloric In
take; Dragon-Sheep-Habitat Model; Climate Impacts