Question

Do ants get hurt when they fall fromgreat height? If yes, Why?

Answer 1

Freely falling bodies are controlled by gravitational attraction of earth, whose value depends on the mass of the falling object. This gravitational force of attraction is opposed by an upward thrust offered by air on the body. The upward thrust or air resistance depends on the surface area of the body. The air resistance will be more on the larger surface area. Thus, under free fall the gravitational force and upward force compete with each other.

When an ant falls under gravity an upward thrust act on it in a direction opposite to that of motion. Ant's velocity first increases, because the gravity pull dominates the air resistance which oppose the motion. As the velocity increases, the air resistance also increases and soon a stage is reached where air resistance balances the gravity pull. At this stage, there is no net force to accelerate ant. Hence the ant starts moving with constant velocity, called terminal velocity and so the ant come to be land safely.