Book 1, Question 41 · Video
Why Is Spider Silk So Strong? Spiders' Super Thread!
Spider silk starts out as a liquid protein inside the spider's gland. As it is pulled into a fiber, the protein molecules line up and lock together, making a strong thread. Spiders
Read the full answer →What Crafty Clover says in this video
Intro
Hi! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why is spider silk so strong?
The Big Idea
Spider silk looks thin and delicate, but it's one of nature's toughest materials! For its weight, the strongest spider silk is tougher than steel. The secret is in how spiders make it.
Liquid Protein
Step one: silk starts as a liquid protein, inside a gland. Spiders have special silk glands in their bellies, where silk is a runny protein soup. It isn't a thread yet!
Molecules Lock
Step two: the silk is pulled into a fiber, and the molecules lock. As the spider pulls silk out through tiny nozzles called spinnerets, the long protein molecules line up and lock together. Some parts pack tightly for strength, and some stay springy for stretch!
Different Jobs
Step three: different silks for different jobs. Spiders make several kinds, each perfect for its job. Web frames are strong and stiff. The catching spiral is sticky and stretchy. Wrapping silk is tough and protective. And the safety line is reliable and elastic.
A Closer Look
Let's take a closer look at our spider! The blue spot stands for strong, tough dragline silk, used for safety lines and web frames. The purple spot stands for sticky, stretchy capture silk, used to snare prey. Each silk gland makes its own special silk.
Quick Facts
Quick facts! Dragline silk can stretch about a third longer before it breaks. The sticky catching spiral is stretchier. It can more than double its length! Many spiders recycle silk by eating their old webs! And a strand of spider silk is much thinner than a human hair.
Think Like a Scientist
Now, think like a scientist! Look at a garden web, but don't smash it. Find the straight spokes. They make the strong frame. Find the spiral that goes round and round. That's the sticky catching silk. Blow on it gently, and watch it stretch and bounce back. Then draw the web, and count its spokes!
Outro
Spider silk is a tiny thread with a mighty secret: molecules that line up and lock together! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!