It is not correct to suggest that the laws of gravity (or physics in general) don't apply to mountain goats—the post's caption is just a fun, hyperbolic way to highlight their incredible climbing skills.
Gravity absolutely affects them like everything else on Earth, pulling them downward with a force equal to their mass times gravitational acceleration (about 9.8 m/s²).
What we are seeing in the video isn't defiance of gravity but a masterful balance of forces that counteract it, thanks to evolutionary adaptations honed over generations. The cliff isn't perfectly smooth or vertical; it has tiny ledges, cracks, and textures that the goat exploits, and the animal's biology allows it to grip and propel itself upward without slipping.
How the Goat Climbs Without Falling
In the video (which shows a real mountain goat ascending a steep rock face in what appears to be a mountainous area like the Rockies or Alps), the goat isn't "defying" physics—it's using friction, normal force, and its own strength to oppose gravity.
Here's a breakdown:
Physics Involved:
Gravity's Components: On a steep incline (say, close to 90 degrees), the goat's weight (mg, where m is mass and g is gravity) can be broken into two parts: one parallel to the surface (pulling it down the slope) and one perpendicular (pushing it into the rock). To stay put or climb, the frictional force (which opposes sliding) must exceed the parallel component.
Friction and Grip: Friction (f = μN, where μ is the coefficient of friction and N is the normal force from the rock pushing back) is key. The goat maximizes μ through its hoof design and presses hard into the surface to increase N. Small protrusions or cracks provide enough support for the hooves to "hook" or wedge in, turning potential sliding into stable holds. Without these micro-features, even the best adaptations wouldn't suffice—it's why goats stick to rough terrain rather than glass-smooth walls.
Momentum and Propulsion:
The goat uses short, powerful leaps and muscle contractions to move upward, converting kinetic energy from its legs into vertical progress. Its low center of gravity (due to a stocky build) helps maintain balance, reducing the torque that could tip it over.
Biological Adaptations (Evolutionary Basis):
Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) have evolved over millions of years in rugged alpine environments to escape predators (like wolves or cougars), access mineral-rich salt licks on cliffs, and reach sparse vegetation. This isn't just "practice" (though kids learn by mimicking adults from a young age), but genetic traits selected for survival:
Specialized Hooves: Their cloven (split) hooves have sharp, hard outer edges for digging into cracks and soft, rubbery, concave pads on the bottom that act like suction cups or grippy tires. These pads conform to uneven surfaces, increasing contact area and friction—even on ledges as narrow as 2 inches. The dewclaws (small extra toes) add stability on slippery or icy spots.
Muscular Strength and Agility:
Powerful shoulder and leg muscles allow them to leap up to 12 feet between holds, while flexible joints let their legs splay out for better leverage. They can rotate their ankles nearly 180 degrees for precise foot placement.
Balance and Sensory Skills:
Excellent depth perception, proprioception (body awareness), and a calm demeanor help them navigate without panic. Young goats practice on lower slopes, building muscle memory and confidence through trial and error—survivors pass on these traits.
Why This Evolved:
In harsh habitats, climbing gives advantages like safer resting spots and exclusive food sources (e.g., lichens or minerals). Natural selection favors goats that can handle steeper terrain, leading to these traits becoming standard in the species.
Regarding the video's authenticity:
While some replies on the X post speculate it's AI-generated, this behavior is well-documented in real footage (e.g., from national parks or wildlife docs).
Mountain goats routinely scale near-vertical dams or cliffs for salt, and similar videos have gone viral before. If it were AI, it'd likely show inconsistencies like unnatural physics or textures, but the frames align with known goat movements.
In short, it's all physics and biology working together—no exemptions from gravity required!
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