Skip to main content
Skeptics

Return to Answer

added 233 characters in body
Source Link
Laurel
Laurel
  • 34.1k
  • 11
  • 149
  • 132

AntAnt carrying 3 sandwich cookies Source

Rex Kerr's answer has linked to photographic evidence of an Asian Weaver ant lifting 100 times its bodyweight (no, it's not the one above).

The picture won first prize in the first Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council science photo competition.

To me the amazing thing is that the ant is actually clinging upside-down to a smooth surface while lifting that 500mg weight:

ant - 500mg Source


But,

ants are actually not stronger than humans.


The reason why ants can lift so much is due to scaling, meaning it has to do with math, not muscles.


Strength:

The strength of a muscle scales with the cross-sectional area. (Exercise makes a muscle bigger, but not longer)

muscleillustrated bicep cut in half to show cross section Source

This means, the strength of an organism increases as the square of the scale factor.


Mass:

The mass of an object depends on its volume.

spider small spider Source

The spider on the right is 3x the size of the small spider, but it weighs 27x as much.

The weight of an object increases as the cube of the scale factor (33=27)


Mass increases faster than strength.

Scalegraph: mass of ant would increase exponentially if it had to be the same size as a human, but lifting power is nearly linear Source

So, if an ant would be human size it wouldn't be able to lift 100x its bodyweight anymore.

Or going the other way, playing "Honey I Shrunk the Kids":

ShrunkHoney I shrunk the kids, tiny kids in the grass Source

ant size humans would be as strong as ants.


Sources:

Ant Source

Rex Kerr's answer has linked to photographic evidence of an Asian Weaver ant lifting 100 times its bodyweight (no, it's not the one above).

The picture won first prize in the first Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council science photo competition.

To me the amazing thing is that the ant is actually clinging upside-down to a smooth surface while lifting that 500mg weight:

ant - 500mg Source


But,

ants are actually not stronger than humans.


The reason why ants can lift so much is due to scaling, meaning it has to do with math, not muscles.


Strength:

The strength of a muscle scales with the cross-sectional area. (Exercise makes a muscle bigger, but not longer)

muscle Source

This means, the strength of an organism increases as the square of the scale factor.


Mass:

The mass of an object depends on its volume.

spider small spider Source

The spider on the right is 3x the size of the small spider, but it weighs 27x as much.

The weight of an object increases as the cube of the scale factor (33=27)


Mass increases faster than strength.

Scale Source

So, if an ant would be human size it wouldn't be able to lift 100x its bodyweight anymore.

Or going the other way, playing "Honey I Shrunk the Kids":

Shrunk Source

ant size humans would be as strong as ants.


Sources:

Ant carrying 3 sandwich cookies Source

Rex Kerr's answer has linked to photographic evidence of an Asian Weaver ant lifting 100 times its bodyweight (no, it's not the one above).

The picture won first prize in the first Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council science photo competition.

To me the amazing thing is that the ant is actually clinging upside-down to a smooth surface while lifting that 500mg weight:

ant - 500mg Source


But,

ants are actually not stronger than humans.


The reason why ants can lift so much is due to scaling, meaning it has to do with math, not muscles.


Strength:

The strength of a muscle scales with the cross-sectional area. (Exercise makes a muscle bigger, but not longer)

illustrated bicep cut in half to show cross section Source

This means, the strength of an organism increases as the square of the scale factor.


Mass:

The mass of an object depends on its volume.

spider small spider Source

The spider on the right is 3x the size of the small spider, but it weighs 27x as much.

The weight of an object increases as the cube of the scale factor (33=27)


Mass increases faster than strength.

graph: mass of ant would increase exponentially if it had to be the same size as a human, but lifting power is nearly linear Source

So, if an ant would be human size it wouldn't be able to lift 100x its bodyweight anymore.

Or going the other way, playing "Honey I Shrunk the Kids":

Honey I shrunk the kids, tiny kids in the grass Source

ant size humans would be as strong as ants.


Sources:

replaced http://skeptics.stackexchange.com/ with https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/
Source Link
Community Bot
Community Bot
  • 1

Ant Source

Rex KerrRex Kerr's answer has linked to photographic evidence of an Asian Weaver ant lifting 100 times its bodyweight (no, it's not the one above).

The picture won first prize in the first Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council science photo competition.

To me the amazing thing is that the ant is actually clinging upside-down to a smooth surface while lifting that 500mg weight:

ant - 500mg Source


But,

ants are actually not stronger than humans.


The reason why ants can lift so much is due to scaling, meaning it has to do with math, not muscles.


Strength:

The strength of a muscle scales with the cross-sectional area. (Exercise makes a muscle bigger, but not longer)

muscle Source

This means, the strength of an organism increases as the square of the scale factor.


Mass:

The mass of an object depends on its volume.

spider small spider Source

The spider on the right is 3x the size of the small spider, but it weighs 27x as much.

The weight of an object increases as the cube of the scale factor (33=27)


Mass increases faster than strength.

Scale Source

So, if an ant would be human size it wouldn't be able to lift 100x its bodyweight anymore.

Or going the other way, playing "Honey I Shrunk the Kids":

Shrunk Source

ant size humans would be as strong as ants.


Sources:

Ant Source

Rex Kerr's answer has linked to photographic evidence of an Asian Weaver ant lifting 100 times its bodyweight (no, it's not the one above).

The picture won first prize in the first Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council science photo competition.

To me the amazing thing is that the ant is actually clinging upside-down to a smooth surface while lifting that 500mg weight:

ant - 500mg Source


But,

ants are actually not stronger than humans.


The reason why ants can lift so much is due to scaling, meaning it has to do with math, not muscles.


Strength:

The strength of a muscle scales with the cross-sectional area. (Exercise makes a muscle bigger, but not longer)

muscle Source

This means, the strength of an organism increases as the square of the scale factor.


Mass:

The mass of an object depends on its volume.

spider small spider Source

The spider on the right is 3x the size of the small spider, but it weighs 27x as much.

The weight of an object increases as the cube of the scale factor (33=27)


Mass increases faster than strength.

Scale Source

So, if an ant would be human size it wouldn't be able to lift 100x its bodyweight anymore.

Or going the other way, playing "Honey I Shrunk the Kids":

Shrunk Source

ant size humans would be as strong as ants.


Sources:

Ant Source

Rex Kerr's answer has linked to photographic evidence of an Asian Weaver ant lifting 100 times its bodyweight (no, it's not the one above).

The picture won first prize in the first Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council science photo competition.

To me the amazing thing is that the ant is actually clinging upside-down to a smooth surface while lifting that 500mg weight:

ant - 500mg Source


But,

ants are actually not stronger than humans.


The reason why ants can lift so much is due to scaling, meaning it has to do with math, not muscles.


Strength:

The strength of a muscle scales with the cross-sectional area. (Exercise makes a muscle bigger, but not longer)

muscle Source

This means, the strength of an organism increases as the square of the scale factor.


Mass:

The mass of an object depends on its volume.

spider small spider Source

The spider on the right is 3x the size of the small spider, but it weighs 27x as much.

The weight of an object increases as the cube of the scale factor (33=27)


Mass increases faster than strength.

Scale Source

So, if an ant would be human size it wouldn't be able to lift 100x its bodyweight anymore.

Or going the other way, playing "Honey I Shrunk the Kids":

Shrunk Source

ant size humans would be as strong as ants.


Sources:

sp
Source Link
Jason Plank
Jason Plank
  • 3.2k
  • 1
  • 27
  • 17

Ant Source

Rex Kerr's answer has linked to photographic evidence of an Asian Weaver ant lifting 100 times its bodyweight (no, it's not the one above).

The picture won first prize in the first Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council science photo competition.

To me the amazing thing is that the ant is actually clinging upside-down to a smooth sufacesurface while lifting that 500mg weight:

ant - 500mg Source


But,

ants are actually not stronger than humans.


The reason why ants can lift so much is due to scaling, meaning it has to do with math, not muscles.


Strength:

The strength of a muscle scales with the cross-sectional area. (Exercise makes a muscle bigger, but not longer)

muscle Source

This means, the strength of an organism increases as the square of the scale factor.


Mass:

The mass of an object depends on its volume.

spider small spider Source

The spider on the right is 3x the size of the small spider, but it weighs 27x as much.

The weight of an object increases as the cube of the scale factor (33=27)


Mass increases faster than strength.

Scale Source

So, if an ant would be human size it wouldn't be able to lift 100x its bodyweight anymore.

Or going the other way, playing "Honey I Shrunk the Kids":

Shrunk Source

ant size humans would be as strong as ants.


Sources:

Ant Source

Rex Kerr's answer has linked to photographic evidence of an Asian Weaver ant lifting 100 times its bodyweight (no, it's not the one above).

The picture won first prize in the first Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council science photo competition.

To me the amazing thing is that the ant is actually clinging upside-down to a smooth suface while lifting that 500mg weight:

ant - 500mg Source


But,

ants are actually not stronger than humans.


The reason why ants can lift so much is due to scaling, meaning it has to do with math, not muscles.


Strength:

The strength of a muscle scales with the cross-sectional area. (Exercise makes a muscle bigger, but not longer)

muscle Source

This means, the strength of an organism increases as the square of the scale factor.


Mass:

The mass of an object depends on its volume.

spider small spider Source

The spider on the right is 3x the size of the small spider, but it weighs 27x as much.

The weight of an object increases as the cube of the scale factor (33=27)


Mass increases faster than strength.

Scale Source

So, if an ant would be human size it wouldn't be able to lift 100x its bodyweight anymore.

Or going the other way, playing "Honey I Shrunk the Kids":

Shrunk Source

ant size humans would be as strong as ants.


Sources:

Ant Source

Rex Kerr's answer has linked to photographic evidence of an Asian Weaver ant lifting 100 times its bodyweight (no, it's not the one above).

The picture won first prize in the first Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council science photo competition.

To me the amazing thing is that the ant is actually clinging upside-down to a smooth surface while lifting that 500mg weight:

ant - 500mg Source


But,

ants are actually not stronger than humans.


The reason why ants can lift so much is due to scaling, meaning it has to do with math, not muscles.


Strength:

The strength of a muscle scales with the cross-sectional area. (Exercise makes a muscle bigger, but not longer)

muscle Source

This means, the strength of an organism increases as the square of the scale factor.


Mass:

The mass of an object depends on its volume.

spider small spider Source

The spider on the right is 3x the size of the small spider, but it weighs 27x as much.

The weight of an object increases as the cube of the scale factor (33=27)


Mass increases faster than strength.

Scale Source

So, if an ant would be human size it wouldn't be able to lift 100x its bodyweight anymore.

Or going the other way, playing "Honey I Shrunk the Kids":

Shrunk Source

ant size humans would be as strong as ants.


Sources:

grammar
Source Link
Oliver_C
Oliver_C
  • 48.1k
  • 18
  • 214
  • 208
Source Link
Oliver_C
Oliver_C
  • 48.1k
  • 18
  • 214
  • 208