AQA AS Level · Biology 7401

Surface area to volume ratio: Practice Questions

4 multiple-choice questions marked as you go, and 5 written questions with worked solutions. All on Surface area to volume ratio.

9 questions20 marksFree, no account

Question 1

1 mark

A cube-shaped organism has a side length of \(2\text{ cm}\). What is its surface area to volume ratio?

Question 2

1 mark

Why do small, single-celled organisms not require a specialized gas exchange system?

Question 3

1 mark

Which of the following is an adaptation in larger organisms to facilitate exchange as the surface area to volume ratio reduces?

Question 4

1 mark

Which of the following describes the relationship between the size of an organism and its surface area to volume ratio?

Question 5

2 marks

Explain why small, single-celled organisms do not require specialized gas exchange surfaces.

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Question 6

3 marks

Compare the diffusion distance for oxygen in a small bacterium versus a large multicellular mammal.

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Question 7

2 marks

Describe how the metabolic rate of an organism is typically related to its surface area to volume ratio.

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Question 8

4 marks

Single-celled organisms can rely on simple diffusion for gas exchange, whereas large multicellular organisms require specialized exchange surfaces.
(a) Explain why a high surface area to volume ratio allows a single-celled organism to survive without a specialized gas exchange system.
(b) State one way in which the body shape of a large organism might be adapted to increase its surface area to volume ratio.

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Question 9

5 marks

A spherical bacterial cell has a radius of \(1 \mu m\). A larger spherical protozoan cell has a radius of \(10 \mu m\).
The formula for the surface area of a sphere is \(4\pi r^2\) and the volume is \(\frac{4}{3}\pi r^3\).
(a) Calculate the surface area to volume ratio of the bacterial cell.
(b) Calculate the surface area to volume ratio of the protozoan cell.
(c) Use your answers to explain why the bacterial cell can exchange substances more efficiently than the protozoan cell.

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