Can Ants Take Fall Damage?
WouterConsidering how tiny ants are, can they take fall damage? In fact, they can survive falls up to 100 feet. They will probably hit the ground hard, but the damage will be minimal.
The answer to this question varies by species, but one thing is for sure: ants are unlikely to die from a fall. They have a hard outer shell, and a solid chitin exoskeleton that will protect them from predators. They also have a robust nervous system that distributes throughout their bodies.
However, scientists don’t know if ants actually feel pain or damage from a fall. Some have suggested that ants sense the damage and go on their merry way. Other experts have called this nociception.
For ants, the best explanation of how to take fall damage is the square-cube law. Basically, the weight of an ant is a force multiplied by the square of its speed. Hence, the larger an ant gets, the less it will move. This is because the air resistance will balance its weight.
In addition to the air resistance, ants also have a robust exoskeleton that will protect them from the impact of a fall. The exoskeleton is a composite of many layers of chitin, a substance similar to keratin. The chitin exoskeleton is designed to support the ant in case of an impact.
When ants fall, they pick up speed as they go through the air. They also reach a peak speed, which is called the terminal velocity.
