Educator Guide: Why Baby Ducks Swim in a Line

mallard ducklings swimming behind a mother duck

Many ducklings, such as these mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) trail their mothers in orderly lines. Such an arrangement gives the little ones a boost from the waves stirred up by their mother.

Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography/Getty Images Plus

About this guide

In this guide, students will learn how scientists figured out why baby ducks save energy when swimming in a certain formation and discuss drag force using real-world examples.

This Guide Includes:

Quacking the physics of duckling swimming

Students will answer questions about the online Science News article “Here’s the physics of why ducklings swim in a row behind their mother,” which details how baby ducks save energy by surfing their mom’s waves. A version of the article, “Why baby ducks swim in a line,” appears in the November 20, 2021 issue of Science News.