Final answer:
Thin shell structures resist surface force responses, compression, and shear forces due to their closely packed atomic structure and lattice form, which resembles spring-like connections.
Step-by-step explanation:
Thin shell structures are able to resist three types of forces: the force response of the molecules on the surface, which is a reaction to external forces; compression, where the tightly-packed atoms form a lattice that is difficult to compress further; and shear forces, which arise from forces that are applied tangentially to the surface. At the molecular level, atoms in these structures are closely packed and linked by forces similar to springs that can be stretched or compressed. This allows the thin shell structures to maintain their shape and resist deformation from applied stresses.