How can a little thing like this, create such an incredible amount of energy?
In: Biology
The amount of energy is actually not that high. It’s estimated that the energy output is only around 1 joule. 1 joule is about the amount of energy it takes to lift up a 100 gram (0.22 lbs) object 1 meter
What is impressive about pistol shrimps is power. Power is simply energy divided by time. Pistol shrimps can close their claws in less than 1 ms which means this small 1 joule is applied extremely fast. That’s why the power output it about 200W (for reference most of your typical household appliances consume around 100-1000W).
The third thing is that the energy gets concentrated into a very small space. That’s precisely why this 1 joule of energy can create a pressure imbalance and cause devastating damage to small fish.
The way pistol shrimps do this is with a special muscle configuration called a torque-reversal joint. It’s a bit complex but there’s a somewhat appropriate analogy. Instead of having to contract its muscles when it wants the claw to move, the joint allows for the muscle to already be contracted before the movement starts. It’s a bit like an arbalest where you draw the string back long before you actually shoot the arrow.
Latest Answers