How Come Ants Don’t Die When They Fall?
WouterDespite being a tiny insect, ants are remarkably robust. They have an exoskeleton that braces for impact. They also have a strengthening coating. And despite their diminutive size, they can make a great escape from a plane.
The question is, how come ants don’t die when they fall? Well, this depends on a number of factors. The mass of the ant, the type of surface it hits, and the shape it is in will all play a part.
In terms of mass, an ant weighs only 0.3 grams. In terms of size, an ant is smaller than a pea, but it has a very large surface area. This allows the ant to absorb less energy from the air and dissipate the same amount of energy.
A small ant has a falling speed of approximately 6 kilometers per hour (km/h) while a larger one may fall as slow as 3.9 km/h. This doesn’t mean they’ll die, though. Considering the small size of the ant, it’s no wonder it can take its time.
The air resistance caused by the ant’s small size also reduces the ant’s falling speed. As a result, an ant that weighs an ounce would fall a distance of only about a half meter. This would be considered the small-scale side of the large-scale wonder.
As a result of its small size, an ant would not suffer any damage if it were dropped from the top of a tower. However, the ant would also not be able to slam into the ground and die.
