How Grasshoppers Jump from Springy Surfaces
Author Information
Author(s): Jessica Taylor, D. Charles Deeming, Gregory P. Sutton
Primary Institution: School of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Lincoln
Hypothesis
Grasshoppers recover energy lost to a compliant substrate depending on the stiffness and mass of the animal relative to the platform.
Conclusion
Grasshoppers can recover energy from compliant surfaces, which helps maintain their jumping performance.
Supporting Evidence
- Grasshoppers jumped with an average velocity of 1.44 m/s.
- The effective stiffness of grasshoppers during jumps was 3.39 N/m.
- Time to take-off was significantly affected by platform stiffness when it was less than grasshopper stiffness.
- Energy recovery was observed when jumping from compliant platforms with specific stiffness and mass ratios.
Takeaway
When grasshoppers jump from soft surfaces, they can bounce back some of the energy they lose, helping them jump better.
Methodology
Grasshoppers were jumped from platforms of varying stiffness, and their jump kinematics were recorded using high-speed cameras.
Potential Biases
Potential muscle fatigue from repeated jumps could influence performance, although control jumps were recorded first.
Limitations
The study had a limited range of platform masses and stiffnesses, which may affect the generalizability of the results.
Participant Demographics
Fifth instar desert locusts of mixed sex.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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