If van der Waals forces are weak, how can geckos utilize these forces to cling to and walk up vertical

smooth surfaces?



What will be an ideal response?


The toes of geckos are covered by millions of hairs (setae). At the tip of each setae are hundreds of
thousands of pads, where each pad forms a weak interaction with a smooth surface due to van der
Waal forces. Collectively, these forces form strong attractive forces.

Biology & Microbiology

You might also like to view...

Horizontal gene transfer between individuals in a population, while not a mutation, is a source of genetic variation

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Biology & Microbiology

Calcium and ____ are the body 's most abundant minerals and are components of teeth and bones

a. potassium b. phosphorus c. sulfur d. sodium e. chlorine

Biology & Microbiology

In the Calvin-Benson cycle of photosynthesis,

after carbon dioxide is fixed into a six carbon molecule, what molecule is generated in the cycle next?

a. RuBP b. glucose c. PGA d. ATP e. NADPH

Biology & Microbiology

  Consider the cladogram shown. Based on this cladogram, which species has the greatest number of ancestral character states (plesiomorphies)?

A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4 E. 5 F. 6

Biology & Microbiology