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Class 10 · English Medium · Pearson Edexcel · Biology

Nutrition, transport and respiration

Use surface area, volume and diffusion distance to explain exchange.

Original Kidemy further-topic investigation. This optional lesson is shared by related upper pathways; select suitable depth with a teacher. It does not certify complete grade or board coverage.

Learn the idea

For similarly shaped objects, surface area grows with length squared and volume with length cubed. The surface-area-to-volume ratio therefore falls as size increases. Exchange also depends on the gradient, permeability and diffusion distance, not surface area alone.

Worked example

A cube of side 1 has surface6 and volume 1, ratio 6:1. At side 2, surface24 and volume 8, ratio 3:1. The bigger cube has more total surface but less surface per unit volume.

  1. Calculate ratios consistently.
  2. Connect structure to exchange.
  3. State a limitation of the cube model.

Your written practice

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54

6×3².

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27

3³.

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2

54/27.

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Its volume demand may increase faster than available outer exchange surface, and internal distances may be long.

Link geometry with demand and distance.

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Gradient, distance and permeability can differ, so surface alone does not determine the rate.

Name relevant conditions.

Apply the idea

Compare two sizes of a model organism and explain how folding could increase exchange surface.

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