An ant may be able to survive me flicking it – but proportionally-speaking, I would not be able to survive such a thing. Is it happenstance that this is the case? Is there a “perfect” size for this universe?
In: Physics
The key issue is that an object’s volume increases in proportion to L^3 for every increase in length L. Doubling the length of a cube’s edge will mean 8 times the volume: 2^3 = 8.
For the cube, that means *a lot* of mass that’s farther away from the surfaces that provide a support structure. Lots of unsupported gooey innards. It also means that structural demands on the support structure are greater, due to the total mass being so huge.
Elephants have found an ideal size for their environments and lifestyle. They can easily make a 100 mile trek for new water in dry seasons, while their ant neighbors just die. They don’t often have to survive great falls, either. It works for them…!
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