Who would be lightest: a cat lighter than an ant or a whale heavier than a cat? - briefly
To determine the lightest entity, we must consider the hypothetical scenarios presented. Typically, ants are significantly lighter than cats. However, if we entertain the hypothetical where a cat is lighter than an ant, then that cat would be the lightest. Conversely, whales are much heavier than cats, so a whale heavier than a cat would not be the lightest.
A cat lighter than an ant would be the lightest. This conclusion is based on the given hypothetical scenarios, where the weight of the cat is specified to be less than that of an ant.
Who would be lightest: a cat lighter than an ant or a whale heavier than a cat? - in detail
To determine which would be lighter between a cat that is lighter than an ant and a whale that is heavier than a cat, it is essential to consider the typical weights of these animals and the hypothetical scenarios presented.
Firstly, let us examine the weights of the animals in question under normal circumstances. An average domestic cat typically weighs between 4 to 5 kilograms. Ants, on the other hand, are significantly lighter, with an average weight of about 3 to 5 milligrams. A typical whale, such as a blue whale, can weigh up to 200 tons, which is approximately 200,000 kilograms. Clearly, under normal conditions, a cat is heavier than an ant, and a whale is much heavier than a cat.
However, the question poses hypothetical scenarios where these weights are altered. Let us consider the first scenario: a cat that is lighter than an ant. For this to be true, the cat would need to weigh less than 5 milligrams. This is an extraordinarily small weight, far less than even the lightest known mammals. The smallest known mammal, the bumblebee bat, weighs around 2 grams, which is still significantly heavier than 5 milligrams. Therefore, a cat lighter than an ant is not biologically possible.
Next, consider the second scenario: a whale that is heavier than a cat. This scenario is more plausible because whales are naturally much heavier than cats. Even the smallest whales, such as the dwarf sperm whale, weigh hundreds of kilograms, which is far heavier than any cat. Therefore, a whale being heavier than a cat is a realistic and expected scenario.
Given these considerations, it is clear that a cat lighter than an ant is an impossible scenario, while a whale heavier than a cat is a realistic one. Since the first scenario is not possible, we can conclude that the whale, despite being described as heavier than a cat, is still the lighter option when compared to the hypothetical cat that is lighter than an ant. However, it is important to note that in reality, neither scenario accurately represents the natural weights of these animals. In practical terms, an ant would be lighter than both a cat and a whale.