What G-force level can a woodpecker's head experience momentarily when performing high-speed drumming strikes?
Answer
Several thousand times the force of gravity (G-force)
The mechanics of a woodpecker's strike are extraordinarily violent from a biomechanical perspective. When these birds hammer wood at speeds that can surpass 20 feet per second, the subsequent, extremely rapid deceleration of the head results in massive inertial forces being exerted upon the brain and skull. These forces are measured to be equivalent to several thousand times the force of gravity (G-force), a level that would instantly incapacitate most other animals if they were subjected to such an impact.
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