Suicidal bugs - Or, how can bugs be so resilient one moment, and so squishy the other - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Fremen · 09-16-2010, 05:22 PM

So, I went to wash my hands in my bathroom and noticed a bitty spider trying unsuccessfully to get out of the slippery-sided sink.

Normally, I'd squish it and wash my hands afterwards, but this time I decided to help it out and set it free on the counter.

After chasing it around a while with my fat fingers, trying not to squish it, I managed to get it to climb on the handle of my toothbrush.
I then put it on the counter figuring it would go hide behind the items there, but no, this little sucker made a mad dash for the edge of the world and just jumped. Didn't even shoot a web out to slow it's descent.

Of course, it survived unharmed and went on it's merry way.

My question is...Why can a bug survive a fall like that (that would surely kill us at an equal height) but are able to be squashed with the least amount of pressure from my finger?

Xerxys · 09-16-2010, 08:11 PM

The weight of an object is equally proportional to the force it exerts when faced with gravity. Little weight, little impact.

Also, what you may think is effortless pressure from you index finger is actually a lot of force and weight in comparison to the bug. Consider this, have you ever rear ended another car at 0 miles/h? The force is jarring isn't it? That's because you never anticipated that such slow movement would generate that much force.

Hektore · 09-16-2010, 08:21 PM

Also, 'bugs' have a huge surface area to mass ratio, meaning wind resistance has a much greater effect, lowering their terminal velocity to a very slow speed(relative to say a big mammal like us).

inBOIL · 09-16-2010, 08:27 PM

Larger objects aren't able to withstand the same proportional forces as small ones. If a spider were blown up to your size, it would be injured by roughly the same forces as you would.

Fremen · 09-16-2010, 09:32 PM

Ahh, ok, I feel enlightened now.
Thanks, guys.

09-16-2010, 05:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
Fremen With a mustache, the cool factor would be too much Location: left side of my couch, East Texas	Suicidal bugs - Or, how can bugs be so resilient one moment, and so squishy the other So, I went to wash my hands in my bathroom and noticed a bitty spider trying unsuccessfully to get out of the slippery-sided sink. Normally, I'd squish it and wash my hands afterwards, but this time I decided to help it out and set it free on the counter. After chasing it around a while with my fat fingers, trying not to squish it, I managed to get it to climb on the handle of my toothbrush. I then put it on the counter figuring it would go hide behind the items there, but no, this little sucker made a mad dash for the edge of the world and just jumped. Didn't even shoot a web out to slow it's descent. Of course, it survived unharmed and went on it's merry way. My question is...Why can a bug survive a fall like that (that would surely kill us at an equal height) but are able to be squashed with the least amount of pressure from my finger? __________________ Google

09-16-2010, 08:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
Hektore Junkie Location: Greater Harrisburg Area	Also, 'bugs' have a huge surface area to mass ratio, meaning wind resistance has a much greater effect, lowering their terminal velocity to a very slow speed(relative to say a big mammal like us). __________________ The advantage law is the best law in rugby, because it lets you ignore all the others for the good of the game. Last edited by Hektore; 09-16-2010 at 08:24 PM..

09-16-2010, 08:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
inBOIL I have eaten the slaw	Larger objects aren't able to withstand the same proportional forces as small ones. If a spider were blown up to your size, it would be injured by roughly the same forces as you would. __________________ And you believe Bush and the liberals and divorced parents and gays and blacks and the Christian right and fossil fuels and Xbox are all to blame, meanwhile you yourselves create an ad where your kid hits you in the head with a baseball and you don't understand the message that the problem is you.

09-16-2010, 09:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
Fremen With a mustache, the cool factor would be too much Location: left side of my couch, East Texas	Ahh, ok, I feel enlightened now. Thanks, guys. __________________ Google

09-16-2010, 08:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
Xerxys Junkie Location: My head.	The weight of an object is equally proportional to the force it exerts when faced with gravity. Little weight, little impact. Also, what you may think is effortless pressure from you index finger is actually a lot of force and weight in comparison to the bug. Consider this, have you ever rear ended another car at 0 miles/h? The force is jarring isn't it? That's because you never anticipated that such slow movement would generate that much force.