As the side length of a cell increases, the surface area to volume ratio decreases. This has important implications for the movement of food and waste products across the cell membrane and is limiting in terms of cell size. For a bacterial cell, this is not a problem as the side length is very small. However, as side length increases volume increases faster than surface area. Unicellular organisms vary in size from very small bacterial to extremely large protists. If a cell is assumed to be cuboidal with all sides equal (i.e., Length = Width = Height), then surface area and volume are easily calculated. Once these values are calculated then the surface area to volume (SA:V) ratio can be calculated. Table 3 below contains a range of side lengths for hypothetical cells. Determine the values for the following and include them in the appropriate column in the table: Calculate cell surface area for each side length. Calculate cell volume for each side length. Calculate the cell surface area to volume ratio for each side length. 4. What effect does increasing side length have on the surface area to volume ratio? 5. At this point, you have already calculated the SA:V ratio. However, next assume that surface area (SA) and volume are related in a direct relationship (i.e., there is no difference between surface area and volume as side length changes); this would be a 1:1 surface area ratio. Determine this ratio if surface area and volume do not vary (i.e., 1:1 SA ratio). To do so, transfer the values from the Surface Area column to the 1:1 SA ratio column.
As the side length of a cell increases, the surface area to volume ratio decreases. This has important implications for the movement of food and waste products across the cell membrane and is limiting in terms of cell size. For a bacterial cell, this is not a problem as the side length is very small. However, as side length increases volume increases faster than surface area.
Unicellular organisms vary in size from very small bacterial to extremely large protists. If a cell is assumed to be cuboidal with all sides equal (i.e., Length = Width = Height), then surface area and volume are easily calculated.
Once these values are calculated then the surface area to volume (SA:V) ratio can be calculated. Table 3 below contains a range of side lengths for hypothetical cells. Determine the values for the following and include them in the appropriate column in the table:
- Calculate cell surface area for each side length.
- Calculate cell volume for each side length.
- Calculate the cell surface area to volume ratio for each side length.
4. What effect does increasing side length have on the surface area to volume ratio?
5. At this point, you have already calculated the SA:V ratio. However, next assume that surface area (SA) and volume are related in a direct relationship (i.e., there is no difference between surface area and volume as side length changes); this would be a 1:1 surface area ratio. Determine this ratio if surface area and volume do not vary (i.e., 1:1 SA ratio). To do so, transfer the values from the Surface Area column to the 1:1 SA ratio column.
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