3.1 Surface Area: Volume Ratio

Question 1

Link between surface area to volume ratio and size of an organism

Answer 1

• As size increases
• Ratio decreases

Question 2

Correlation of surface area and volume increasing as organisms increase in size

Answer 2

• Both increase as organism increases in size
• Volume increases more rapidly

Question 3

As their surface area: volume ratio is too small, how do larger organisms provide cells with essential molecules

Answer 3

Specialised exchange surfaces

Question 4

Describe the effect of the size of an organism on metabolic rates

Answer 4

• Smaller organisms have higher metabolic rates
• As more heat loss due to faster rate of respiration
• Due to their larger surface area: volume ratio