In terms of maximizing diffusion, what was the most effective size cube that you tested?
The most effect cube was the smallest one (1x1x1cm). It had a percent of diffusion of 100%.
Why was that size most effective at maximizing diffusion? what are the important factors that affect how materials diffuse into cells of tissues? There was less surface area for the 1x1x1cm cube, so it needed less time to diffuse as the others. This cube also had the best surface volume to volume ratio (6:1), while the others had a ratio of 1:3 and 2:1 (as seen on the data sheet). Important factors include surface area to volume ratio, concentration, temperature, and pressure.
If a large surface are is helpful to cells, why do cells not grow to be very large? Surface area is important, but so is the volume of the cell. If a cell grows, the volume and surface area will also grow and make it a longer and harder process to diffuse.
You have three cubes, A, B, and C. They have surfaces to volume ratios 3:1. 5:2. and 4:1 respectively. Which of these cubes is going to be the most effective at maximizing diffusion, how do you know this? Cube C would be the most effective cell to maximize diffusion as it has the highest surface area to volume ratio.
How does your body adapt surface area-to-volume ratios to help exchange gases? The body adapts surface area-to-volume ratios by increasing this ratio to increase the exchange rate of gases. Having a low surface area to volume ratio, the gas exchange rate will drop.
Why can’t certain cells, like bacteria, get to be the size of a small fish? Bacteria need to diffuse effectively to survive. Being unicellular means that bacteria needs to have a high surface area to volume ratio, which is hard to have when it is the size of a fish.
What are the advantages of large organisms being multicellular? Being a multicellular organism is an advantage as it means that it can diffuse effectively by having many small cells diffusing at once and doing so quickly as opposed to one giant cell having to fully diffuse and taking a long time to do so.
