What is the relationship of the size of the agar cubes to diffusion?

In other words, if the cube dimensions are doubled, the time it takes for the hydrogen ions to completely diffuse in more than doubles. When you triple the size, the time to diffuse MUCH more than triples.

How does the size of a cell affect diffusion?

When the cell increases in size, the volume increases faster than the surface area, because volume is cubed where surface area is squared. When there is more volume and less surface area, diffusion takes longer and is less effective.

What do the different sized agar cubes represent what does the vinegar represent?

The cubes represent a cell and the vinegar represents nutrients moving into the cell.

How does the agar cube model the cell and the cell membrane?

The agar cubes represent biological cells. The volume of the cube correlates to the cytoplasm and the surface area of each cube to the cell membrane. All living cells are dependent on diffusion processes for survival. These processes transport materials across the cell membrane into and out of the cell.

What size cell is best for diffusion?

Hypothesis: A smaller cell will have a higher diffusion rate because it has less volume and a larger surface area compared to larger cells. In terms of maximizing diffusion, what was the most effective size cube that you tested? We found that the most effective size was the cube with the volume 1 cm3 .

How does cell size and shape influence the diffusion of molecules?

As cell size increases, its ability to facilitate diffusion across the cell membrane decreases. This is because its internal volume increases at a faster rate than its external surface area. Therefore, the cell will divide to maintain the proper ratio and rate of diffusion to survive.

How does cell size affect the cell’s ability to get eliminate materials?

The greater the surface-area to volume ratio of a cell, the easier it is for the cell to get rid of wastes and take in essential materials such as oxygen and nutrients. In this example, the large cell has the same area as 27 small cells, but much less surface area.

Why are smaller cells better for diffusion?

Smaller cells have a much greater surface area to volume ratio allowing material to diffuse throughout the entire volume of the cell quickly and efficiently.

Which size cube would make a more efficient cell?

The cube that will be most effective at maximizing diffusion will be the cube that has a surface to volume ratio of 4:1 because it has a higher surface area to volume ratio so it is more efficient.

Why do smaller cells diffuse faster?

Why are smaller cells more efficient?

Many small cells have more surface area than one large cell. With smaller cells, more surface area is available for oxygen and nutrients to diffuse in and carbon dioxide to diffuse out of the cell. Thus many small cells can take up oxygen and nutrients and release carbon dioxide much more quickly than one large cell.

What role does a cells size have upon diffusion of materials in and out?

It would seem reasonable that the larger the cell, the greater the surface area for the passage of materials into and out of the cell. However, the bigger the cell gets, the greater its volume. This greater volume increases the cell’s needs for materials that must pass through the cell’s surface.