Our fan Logan T. asked, how fast can an alligator race? Even with their short stumpy legs, alligators can run about 11 miles per hour. Just to compare, the fastest a person has run is about 23 miles per hour, but most people are a lot slower. By the way, you don’t want to race an alligator or even get near one…alligators have teeny brains, less than half a tablespoon in size, so they don’t do much thinking — they just eat anything that moves. So let’s let the gators race against each other.
Wee ones: Who has more legs, an alligator or you? (Reminder: Alligators have 4 legs.)
Little kids: If you did dare to race an alligator, how many legs would the two of you have altogether? Bonus: If the alligator runs the race at 11 miles per hour and you run 2 miles per hour slower, how fast do you run?
Big kids: If the alligator you’re racing can run 11 miles per hour but can swim twice that speed, how fast can that alligator swim? Bonus: Alligators can also stay underwater a lot longer than we can. They can stay under for up to 2 hours if needed. If you can last only 5 minutes, how many more minutes can the alligator last?
Answers:
Wee ones: The alligator has more legs, even if they’re shorter!
Little kids: 6 legs in total. Bonus: 9 miles per hour.
Big kids: 22 miles per hour. Bonus: 115 minutes.
