How Do Ants Survive High Falls?
WouterDespite their small size, ants can survive high falls. Their light mass and air resistance are two factors that allow them to survive falls from great heights. They are also immune to the trauma caused by falls.
The answer to “how do ants survive high falls” is not difficult to understand. Ants have an outer skeleton like armour that surrounds them. This skeleton is composed of chitin, a tough substance that is similar to keratin. It also has a strengthening coating, which contributes to ants’ survival.
Another factor that enables ants to survive falls is their ability to dissipate kinetic energy. Unlike humans, ants dissipate kinetic energy faster. They absorb about one-third of the energy a human can absorb.
The best way to calculate how fast an ant can fall is to compare the mass of an ant to the mass of the air. If an ant is falling at the speed of a horse, it would accelerate at 9.8 meters per second. Likewise, if an ant is falling at the speed of air, it would accelerate at 6.4 kilometers per hour. This is called the terminal velocity of the ant.
Unlike humans, ants can climb and scale almost any surface. They are also able to climb high-rise balconies. In addition to their climbing ability, ants have a relatively large surface area. This means they distribute pressure more evenly.
Their small size also means they do not have a large mass to absorb shock. Their light weight means they do not take a lot of impact when they hit the ground.
