C2 SA:V Flashcards
Define surface area
Sum of the area of each side of the object
Volume
Space the object takes up in 3D
SA:V ratio
Surface area divided by volume (outer most layer of something divided by the amount of space being occupied)
How does SA:V relate to cell?
The bigger the cell, then it’s SA:V ratio decreases
What happens with smaller volume?
Faster efficiency + faster rate of diffusion
What happens when SA is bigger than V?
More efficient
What happens when volume is bigger?
Decrease in efficiency + rate of diffusion slows
How is bigger V bad?
Many organelles need material to be released and nutrients to be delivered quickly, bigger V means slower diffusion meaning organelles cannot get nutrients as fast as smaller V
What limits the size of cell?
Rate of diffusion (because bigger cell = smaller SA:V ratio)
What determines the size and shape of cells in multicellular organisms?
The function of the cell/state of cell (+ water amount + cytoskeleton)