Acceleration of Ant's Mandibles

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/29/science/29find.html?ref=science
Many A Splended Mandible

After reading the article, I found it amazing that ants can move their jaws at a speed of 200 ft per second. I have always know that ants are extraodinary creatures, who can lift more than their own weight, a feat few human can achieve, but learning that ants can fly without wings is something else entirely. Well, according to the article by Henry Fountain, they cannot exactly fly, but can jump extreme distances.

The ant mandible is the fastest moving appendage in the animal kingdom. An equation regulary used in physics demonstrates how the force of the ants appendage allows it to jump: force is equal to acceleration times mass. Since the acceleration of an ant's jaw generates a force around 300 times the ant's weight, and has the ability to propel an ant. Similar results can be seen when a mouse trap is sprung and it vaults off of the ground.

Dr. Patek who video taped this incredible feat remarks that even though they can jump, their landing is not as amazing. The ants never land on their feet, but since they weigh so little they are able to get up and walk away unharmed. So even if we find ants to be annoying creatures while we try to have a picnic, we must respect their impressive mandibles.