Why does flicking a small insect not kill it? Is the force not as strong as squishing it?
It's mostly to do with mass. The less mass an object has, the easier it is to accelerate (so more energy goes to actual movement, and less to the object deforming.) Insects have very little mass, so they don't experience much resistance to acceleration (the flick.) Alternatively, squishing agains…
The Short Answer
It's mostly to do with mass. The less mass an object has, the easier it is to accelerate (so more energy goes to actual movement, and less to the object deforming.) Insects have very little mass, so they don't experience much resistance to acceleration (the flick.) Alternatively, squishing against a hard surface results in most of the energy being used to actually deform the insect, as it doesn't have anywhere to accelerate to.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Mass, less, object
This explanation focuses on mass, less, object and spans 73 words across 2 sentences. The depth is typical for Science questions (category average: 72 words), striking a balance between accessibility and completeness.
What This Answer Covers
This is a focused, single-point answer that gets directly to the core of the question without detours.
How This Compares in Science
Ranked #211 of 500 Science questions by answer depth (top 43%). This falls in the detailed tier — above average depth. The explanation goes beyond surface-level but keeps things accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why flicking a small insect not kill it? is the force not as strong as squishing it?
It's mostly to do with mass. The less mass an object has, the easier it is to accelerate (so more energy goes to actual movement, and less to the object deforming.) Insects have very little mass, so they don't experience much resistance to…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Science questions?
This is an above-average answer at 73 words, ranked #211 of 500 Science questions by depth. The key concepts covered are mass, less, object.
What approach does this answer take to explain flicking a small insect not kill it? is the force not as str?
The explanation uses direct explanation across 73 words. It is categorized under Science and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.