Write an explanation of ONE of the following question: (your explanation should be in paragraph form and should be written for a reader who is completely unfamiliar with area/volume scale factors and the square-cube law)
1) Why can aquatic animals grow so much larger than land animals?
2) Why are godzilla and king kong type monsters physically impossible?
3) Why is it impossible for an ant to fall to its death?
1) Archimedes holds you up in the ocean. Water is about 800 times as dense as air. In fact it is about the density of most animals, including people and whales. Therefore when you are in the water you need to exert very little force to hold yourself up. Similarly a whale is about neutrally buoyant. On land, a whale would need fantastic legs to get around. In the ocean, no problem.
for similar objects:
weight = constant * length cubed
strength of column or bone = constant * length square
so
ratio of weight to strength = L^3/L^2 = L
twice as long, half as strong.
I guess that answers the second two now that I see them.
by the way the ant is not only immensely strong for its weight but that A - k L^2 ratio means it has a big surface area for its length. Therefore it's terminal velocity is much lower than yours.
I mean big surface area for its weight
Let's start with the explanation of why aquatic animals can grow larger than land animals. To understand this, we need to delve into the concept of area/volume scale factors and the square-cube law. This law states that as the size of an object increases, its volume (and weight) increases faster than its surface area. In simpler terms, as an animal grows in size, its mass and volume increase more rapidly compared to its surface area. This presents a challenge for land animals because their weight increases faster than their body parts (like legs or bones) can support. However, in aquatic environments, buoyancy counteracts the effects of gravity, allowing animals to support their larger size more effectively. The water's support enables aquatic creatures to grow to tremendous proportions compared to their terrestrial counterparts. Additionally, the higher oxygen content in water allows aquatic animals to have more efficient respiration, supporting larger body sizes.
Now, let's explore why Godzilla and King Kong type monsters, which are gigantic in size, are physically impossible. Again, we can refer to the concept of area/volume scale factors and the square-cube law. As creatures grow larger, their volume and weight increase much faster than their surface area. This becomes problematic when an organism reaches a tremendous size, as their body parts and support structures become inadequate to sustain their weight. Additionally, the stress placed on their bodies by gravity becomes increasingly unmanageable. Due to these constraints, the bones, muscles, and organs of such massive creatures would bear excessively high loads, rendering them unable to function properly. Therefore, the immense size of these monstrous creatures would surpass the physical limits dictated by the square-cube law, making them impractical and unviable in reality.
Finally, let's discuss why ants cannot fall to their death. While it may seem counterintuitive considering their small size, ants are equipped with several remarkable adaptations that prevent them from falling to their demise. First, ants possess a low weight-to-surface-area ratio, allowing them to navigate surfaces that would be impossible for larger animals. They can distribute their weight evenly across multiple legs, ensuring strong traction even on vertical surfaces. Additionally, ants feature specialized adhesive pads on their feet that enable them to cling tightly to various surfaces, defying gravity's pull. Furthermore, ants have a high body resistance and can withstand falls due to their exoskeleton structure, which acts as a protective armor and absorbs impact. These combined adaptations make it virtually impossible for ants to fall to their death, allowing them to traverse challenging terrains with exceptional agility and safety.