Theoretical and Practical Implications of Shrinking a Building to Kill Thanos in Marvel Cinematic Universe

The idea of Ant-Man shrinking a building and then returning it to its original size inside Thanos is an intriguing concept that has garnered much discussion among fans. However, it is essential to consider various factors from a physics and narrative perspective.

Mass and Volume

When Ant-Man shrinks an object, its mass is theoretically compressed into a much smaller volume. If he were to enlarge that object again while inside Thanos, the mass would suddenly occupy a much larger space. This could result in a massive internal explosion due to the rapid expansion. The sudden increase in volume would generate immense pressure, potentially causing significant damage to both the building and the host, Thanos. This explosion could be powerful enough to cause substantial harm, but it is unclear if it would be sufficient to kill Thanos, especially if he is prepared or aware of the attack.

Thanos’s Durability

Thanos, particularly when equipped with the Infinity Gauntlet or the Power Stone, has shown extraordinary durability and resilience. It is questionable whether the explosion from a building's sudden expansion would be enough to harm him significantly. If Thanos is aware of the attack or is in a combat-ready state, the effectiveness of such a strategy would be severely diminished.

Narrative Implications

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), the rules of physics can be bent for storytelling purposes. The effectiveness of this strategy would depend on how the writers choose to portray it. In a comic or movie, such a tactic could be a dramatic moment, but its success would likely depend on Thanos's current state and any powers he might have at the time. For example, if the Infinity Gauntlet is not aware of what Ant-Man is trying to do and counteracts it, the strategy would fail.

Practical Challenges

Getting close enough to Thanos to execute such a plan would be a formidable challenge. Thanos is a formidable opponent with significant combat skills and powers, making the execution of such a tactic risky. Additionally, the logistics of shrinking a building and returning it to its original size inside Thanos are extremely complex and highly impractical without advanced technology.

Alternative Tactics

While the concept is theoretically interesting and could be visually dramatic, it is important to consider more practical and effective tactics. For instance, using a bomb, poison, or even sending a group of Avengers inside Thanos to destroy him from the inside would be more feasible and likely more effective. Ant-Man's powers are so broken that they do not obey the internal logic established by the movie, making the snap from Avengers: Infinity War virtually impossible if he had been there.

Internal Logic of Ant-Man’s Powers

The first Ant-Man movie establishes that when he shrinks, the molecules in his body are simply pulled closer together, with his mass remaining the same. This explains why punches in the shrunken form are like bullets. However, the movie consistently ignores this rule for every activity except punching. For example, weight is defined as an object's mass times gravity. If an object's mass hasn't changed and Earth's gravity hasn't changed, then the object's weight hasn't changed either. This means that when Scott Lang sits on an ant, he is putting the full weight of an adult human on the middle of the ant's body. Similarly, when Hank Pym puts a tank on a keychain, it still weighs the same as a normal tank. When Scott goes giant in Civil War, he should float away like a helium balloon or at least be taken for a ride when grabbing War Machine out of the air. The thrusters in that suit are more than powerful enough to carry the weight of two grown men. Another possibility is that you cannot shrink the distance between the molecules in your body so much that all of your molecules are smaller than a single atom, which is not a thing. Therefore, the answer to whether Ant-Man could put a building inside Thanos should be, "how is Ant-Man going to lift a building? He's not that strong." Sadly, Ant-Man has been given nearly unlimited power, breaking the established internal logic of the movie universe.

In conclusion, while the concept of shrinking a building to kill Thanos is visually dramatic and theoretically interesting, it is essential to consider the practical and narrative implications. The success of such a strategy would depend on the specific circumstances in the narrative, Thanos's current state, and the feasibility of the plan itself. Ant-Man, with his broken and inconsistent powers, presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities in the MCU.