>>95461349A light object, such as a beetle, has a large surface area in comparison to its mass, therefore accelerates more slowly and reaches a lower maximum velocity when it lands. Add to that, that the strength/weight ratio in an insect is much higher than a human. It would require a greater force than that generated by the fall to break or damage the insects body. The same applies to larger animals. It is apparently possible to drop a mouse down a mine shaft without it causing harm.
Larger animals like us, have a lower strength/weight ratio, and less surface area for a given mass, so not only do we accelerate faster and thus hit the ground harder, the impact force is sufficient to break our limbs. Legs strong enough to resist a rigid (no knee bending) jump from 20m high would not only have to be huge, but would also transmit the shock throughout the body, causing other damage.
Throw a ping pong ball at someone, and it is very difficult to do so hard enough to cause pain, as the object has low density, high drag etc.
Throw a similar size stone, and it will hurt. higher density means the speed of the throw slows down at a lower rate, so it hits faster.
