$解:(2)如图①,A_2C_1=\sqrt{5²+5²}=\sqrt{50}=5\sqrt{2}(\ \mathrm {cm})$
$如图②,A_2C_1=\sqrt{9²+1²}= \sqrt{82}(\ \mathrm {cm})$
$如图③,A_2C_1=\sqrt{6²+4²}=\sqrt{52}=2\sqrt{13}(\ \mathrm {cm})$
$∵\sqrt{50}\lt \sqrt{52}\lt \sqrt{82}$
$∴一只蚂蚁从点A_2爬到点C_1 ,爬行的最短路程是5\sqrt{2}\ \mathrm {cm}$