2006-12-23 05:30:34 · 20 answers · asked by Lyda R 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Ants are strong for 2 reasons: their structure & their size. At their size, gravity is a much weaker force. Adhesive forces become much stronger as you get down to that level & below; gravity less and less.
The largest animal known with an exoskeleton (living or fossil) is measured in inches and ounces. exoskeletons work better when they are tiny; endoskeletons make more sense at larger sizes.
An ant our size would collapse under it's own weight.
Interesting question.
;-)
2006-12-23 05:48:11 · answer #1 · answered by WikiJo 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
No is the right answer. It has a lot to do with the difference between volume and lengths changes as you scale them up. Exoskeletons actually reach the end of efficiency long before they reach anything approaching human size except in marine environments like the ocean. even there crabs are very limited in size. As somebody else says, it is doubtful if a human sized ant could even support itself. Even if it could its system of breathing would not be workable(gas diffusion rates is the problem).
2006-12-23 13:45:29 · answer #2 · answered by Barabas 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
No, they would collapse under their own weight, and they would suffocate because their breathing system only works over very short distances.
The reasons for this are all very well explained in two classic and easy-to-read scientific articles: D'Arcy Thompson, "On Growth and Form", and (parts of) J.B.S. Haldane, "On Being the Right Size".
2006-12-23 15:02:09 · answer #3 · answered by bh8153 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
let's see it from this point of view.
The mass of an object increases with it's volume, thus in r^3.
Now, the resistance to an object to a force (compression in this case) increases with the area, thus in r^2.
Consequently, the mass of something increases much faster than its resistance as it grows bigger and an ant would collapse under its own weight.
2006-12-23 13:42:56 · answer #4 · answered by Vincent L 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
No, they would be crushed by their own weight. The exoskeleton insect design only works for insect size animals. And a lot of other features that just can't be multiplied, and still work.
2006-12-23 13:37:30 · answer #5 · answered by Lorenzo Steed 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
If a standard ant was enlarged (a la ray gun), its exoskeleton would begin collapsing and breaking. (Long things break more easily than comparative short ones.)
If an ant were naturally our size, then I'd say, yes.
2006-12-23 13:38:52 · answer #6 · answered by wildheavenfarm 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
All things considered........they would rule the world. Human beings would have a very meager existence..........if at all. There are some species of ants, in Australia......Africa......They raid a particular species in their area, not for food,not to just wipe them out...........they take their eggs. They continue to care for the eggs, more so than the source of the eggs. When the larvae hatch.........The hell begins. they are the slaves to the captors. This is an ongoing fact in their world.........LATER
2006-12-23 14:35:33 · answer #7 · answered by veteranpainter 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
On another planet, maybe, I think that on Earth, insects & such, aren't any bigger than they are due to the way that they breathe. They have little holes in the sides of there bodies and it's not as efficient as our lungs.
2006-12-23 14:22:55 · answer #8 · answered by bert 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
then they wouldn't be ants...can giants lift 10x their weight? there's your answer.
2006-12-23 13:50:42 · answer #9 · answered by Lindsey M 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the correct wieght is 100 times thier weight and yes... they would be able to because they would still be ants therefor if ants can carry 100 time thier weight then it doesn't matter what size they are.
2006-12-23 13:39:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋