Why do grasshoppers jump so high?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Powerful spring-loaded legs
Powerful spring-loaded legs ✓ — Correct! Grasshopper legs store energy like a spring. Special proteins in their knees act like rubber bands, releasing stored energy explosively. They can jump 20 times their body length!
They're very lightweight — Wrong. Being light helps, but the key is their leg mechanism. The spring-loaded knee joints provide the explosive power.
Wind helps lift them — Wrong. Grasshoppers jump using muscle power, not wind. Their jumps work even in still air.
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