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    Using Math To Talk About Cells Answers: Surface-to-Volume Ratios in Biology

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    abhay
    1. The document discusses how surface area to volume ratios (S/V ratios) impact cells and organisms. Smaller cells and organisms have higher S/V ratios, allowing more efficient material exchange. 2. Experiments are described measuring how S/V ratios change with cube size, shape (flattening, elongating), and different 3D geometric shapes. S/V ratios decrease with increasing size and flatten/elongate shapes have higher ratios. 3. Questions are provided about how S/V ratios influence biological structures and processes like leaf shape, blood vessels, plant growth, and why cells must divide to maintain efficient material exchange as they increase in size.

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    Using Math To Talk About Cells Answers: Surface-to-Volume Ratios in Biology

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    abhay
    278 views3 pages
    1. The document discusses how surface area to volume ratios (S/V ratios) impact cells and organisms. Smaller cells and organisms have higher S/V ratios, allowing more efficient material exchange. 2. Experiments are described measuring how S/V ratios change with cube size, shape (flattening, elongating), and different 3D geometric shapes. S/V ratios decrease with increasing size and flatten/elongate shapes have higher ratios. 3. Questions are provided about how S/V ratios influence biological structures and processes like leaf shape, blood vessels, plant growth, and why cells must divide to maintain efficient material exchange as they increase in size.

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    1. The document discusses how surface area to volume ratios (S/V ratios) impact cells and organisms. Smaller cells and organisms have higher S/V ratios, allowing more efficient material exchange. 2. Experiments are described measuring how S/V ratios change with cube size, shape (flattening, elongating), and different 3D geometric shapes. S/V ratios decrease with increasing size and flatten/elongate shapes have higher ratios. 3. Questions are provided about how S/V ratios influence biological structures and processes like leaf shape, blood vessels, plant growth, and why cells must divide to maintain efficient material exchange as they increase in size.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as pdf or txt
    278 views3 pages

    Using Math To Talk About Cells Answers: Surface-to-Volume Ratios in Biology

    Uploaded by

    abhay
    1. The document discusses how surface area to volume ratios (S/V ratios) impact cells and organisms. Smaller cells and organisms have higher S/V ratios, allowing more efficient material exchange. 2. Experiments are described measuring how S/V ratios change with cube size, shape (flattening, elongating), and different 3D geometric shapes. S/V ratios decrease with increasing size and flatten/elongate shapes have higher ratios. 3. Questions are provided about how S/V ratios influence biological structures and processes like leaf shape, blood vessels, plant growth, and why cells must divide to maintain efficient material exchange as they increase in size.

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    Using Math to Talk About Cells Answers: Surface-to-Volume Ratios in Biology

    This lesson is based on a lesson developed by Dr. Stephen G. Saupe; College of St. Benedict/ St. John’s
    University; Biology Department; Collegeville, MN 56321; ssaupe@csbsju. edu. I found it at
    http://employees.csbsju.edu/ssaupe/biol327/Lab/sv-ratio.htm
    In order for cells to survive, they must constantly exchange ions, gases, nutrients, and
    wastes with their environment. These exchanges take place at the cell’s surface and limit
    cell growth. These exercises are designed to introduce the concept of surface area,
    volume, and surface-to-volume ratios (S/V) and their importance in biology.
    Surface area is the summation of the areas of the exposed sides of an object and
    volume is a measure of how much space an object occupies. The surface to volume ratio,
    or S/V ratio, refers to the amount of surface a structure has relative to its size. To
    calculate the S/V ratio, simply divide the surface area by the volume. We will examine
    the effect of size, shape, flattening an object, and elongating an object on surface-to-
    volume ratios.
    To perform this function efficiently, there must be an adequate ratio between the cell’s
    volume and its surface area.

    I. INFLUENCE OF SIZE ON S/V RATIOS.


    The purpose of this exercise is to see how the S/V changes as an object gets larger.
    We will use a cube to serve as a model cell (or organism). Cubes are especially nice
    because surface area (length x width x number of sides) and volume (length x width x
    height) calculations are easy to perform. To calculate the surface-to-volume ratio, divide
    the surface area by the volume. Complete the table below for a series of cubes of
    varying size:

    Length of side (mm) Surface Area (mm2) Volume (mm3) Surface/Volume


    ratio
    1 6 1 6
    2 24 8 3
    3 54 27 2
    4 96 64 1.5
    5 150 125 1.2
    6 216 216 1.0
    7 294 343 0.86
    8 384 512 0.75
    9 486 729 0.67
    10 600 1000 0.6

    Questions and Analysis:


    1. Which cube has the greatest surface area? Volume? S/V ratio?
    2. What happens to the surface area as the cubes get larger?
    3. What happens to the volume as the cubes get larger?
    4. What happens to the S/V ratio as the cubes get larger?
    5. Proportionately, which grows faster: surface area or volume? Explain.
    6. Which cube has the most surface area in proportion to its volume?
    7. If you cut a cube in half, how does the volume, surface area, and S/V ratio of one
    of the resultant halves compare to the original?
    8. Plot, all on one graph, the following: S/V ratio vs. cube size (length in mm);
    volume vs. cube size (length in mm); and surface area vs. cube size (length in
    mm).

    II. S/V RATIOS IN FLATTENED OBJECTS:


    In this exercise we will explore how flattening an object impacts the surface to volume
    ratio. Consider a box that is 8 x 8 x 8 mm on a side. Then imagine that we can flatten the
    box making it thinner and thinner while maintaining the original volume. What will
    happen to the surface area and S/V ratio as the box is flattened? Complete the table
    below.

    Box No. Height Length Width Surface area Volume S/V Ratio
    (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm2) (mm3)
    1 8 8 8 384 512 0.75
    2 4 16 8 448 512 0.88
    3 2 16 16 640 512 1.3
    4 1 32 16 1120 512 2.2
    5 0.5 32 32 2112 512 4.1

    Questions/ Analysis:
    1. Explain why leaves are thin and flat.
    2. Why do elephants have large, flat ears?
    3. Explain why desert plants generally have smaller leaves.

    III. S/V RATIOS IN ELONGATED OBJECTS:


    In this exercise we will explore how elongating an object impacts the surface to
    volume ratio. Consider a box that is 8 x 8 x 8 mm on a side. Then, imagine that we pull
    on the ends to make it longer and longer while maintaining the original volume. What
    will happen to the surface area, and S/V ratio as the box is flattened? Complete the table
    below.

    Box No. Length Height Width Surface area Volume S/V ratio
    (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm2) (mm3)
    1 8 8 8 384 512 0.75
    2 16 4 8 448 512 0.88
    3 32 4 4 544 512 1.1
    4 64 2 4 784 512 1.5
    5 128 2 2 1032 512 2.0

    Questions/ Analysis:
    1. Explain the shape of blood vessels.
    2. Explain why roots have “hairs”.
    IV. SHAPE AND S/V RATIOS:
    In this exercise we will explore the impact of shape on surface to volume ratios. The
    three shapes given below have approximately the same volume. For each, calculate the
    volume, surface area, and S/V ratio and complete the table. The last column in the table,
    “Volume of environment within 1.0 mm of the object” is particularly important. Since the
    materials that an organism exchanges with its environment come from its immediate
    surroundings, the greater this volume, the more material that can be exchanged.

    Shape Dimensions Volume Surface area S/V Volume (mm3) of the


    (mm) (mm3) (mm2) ratio environment within 1.0
    mm of object
    Sphere 1.2 diameter .90 4.5 5.0 16.3
    Cube 1x1x1 1.0 6.0 6.0 26
    Filament 0.1 x 0.1 x 100 1.0 40 40 449
    3 2 2
    Note: volume of a sphere = 4/3 (π)r = 4.189r3. Surface area of sphere = 4(π)r = 12.57 r
    A filament is a box. To calculate surface area of a box determine the surface area of each
    face (l x w) and then add them. The volume of a box = l x w x h.

    Questions & Analysis:


    1. Make a sketch, to scale, of the three objects.
    2. Which shape has the greatest surface area? Volume? S/V ratio?
    3. If you had to select a package with the greatest volume and smallest surface area,
    what shape would it be?
    4. Explain why cells divide as they get larger.
    5. Explain why the shape of animals is basically “spherical”, whereas plants and
    fungi are “filamentous”.
    6. Given that one way a plant grows is cell elongation. How does the plant’s vacuole
    help accomplish this task and why does this help solve the S/V ratio conundrum?

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