Fig. 7. The simulated change in calculated peak force (open circles) as a function of strike initiation distance in a representative strike. Force was modeled based on original strike kinematics, with strike initiation distance systematically changed from 0.5–20 mm in 0.5 mm increments. Grey shaded region is the 90% force efficiency zone, in which peak force for each simulated strike was 90% of the maximal force within the simulated range. The observed strike initiation distance for this sequence is also noted (9.6 mm; filled circle; marked `Obs'). The flow speed within the buccal cavity was assumed equal to that at the mouth aperture, hence the flat response of peak force at short strike-initiation distances.