Watch How a Polar Bear Delicately Crosses Thin Ice Without Breaking It

three screenshots of video showing polar bear spreading legs to cross thin ice

Photo: Screenshot from Reddit

As fun as ice skating can be, the key to doing it safely relies on the thickness of the ice. That's why cities will measure the ice to make sure that it's safe for the community to skate on. But this isn't limited to humans; polar bears are also aware of the dangers. An enlightening viral video shows what a polar bear does to get to the other side of a frozen body of water without falling through thin ice.

No matter how much polar bears thrive in freezing environments, falling into frigid waters is not a pleasant experience. But when conditions seem dangerous, the creatures have to use their smarts to safely cross. That's why, as this video reveals, instead of giving up and turning back, the polar bear distributes its weight to avoid breaking the ice. It spreads its limbs and crawls until it's safe to walk on all fours again.

The principle even has its own equation: pressure equals force divided by area (P= F/A). In other words, pressure is directly proportional to force, but inversely proportional to area. As @Rainmaker1973 explains on Twitter, “This bear spotted crawling instead of walking on ice possibly learned that maximizing A and therefore reducing P, increases the chances to safely reach the snow.”

As much as this video demonstrates the cleverness of polar bears, it also brings another issue to mind. The climate crisis threats the arctic landscapes these creatures call home. While it's not immediately clear if the ice this particular bear is crossing has been thinned by the change of seasons or as a direct effect of climate change, it paints a clear example of the dangers fauna may face

If we want to keep these creatures safe and not have to scramble to get around their habitats, we need to take action to reduce carbon emissions and prevent polar ice caps from melting any further.

An enlightening video that has gone viral shows what a polar bear does to get to the other side of a frozen body of water without falling through thin ice.

Polar bears spread their arms and legs while crossing thin ice, to avoid breaking the ice
by u/Lolguppy in interestingasfuck

The principle this smart bear used even it has its own equation: Pressure equals force divided by area (P= F/A). In other words, pressure is directly proportional to force, but inversely proportional to area.

P = F / A

This bear spotted crawling instead of walking on ice possibly learned that maximizing A and therefore reducing P, increases the chances to safely reach the snow

[Emma Postolec: https://t.co/HpSRhvqZUh]pic.twitter.com/P6fjWAmCmx

— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) March 20, 2023