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Table 6 shows information about five different organisms - AQA - GCSE Biology - Question 6 - 2022 - Paper 1
Question 6
Table 6 shows information about five different organisms. Table 6 | Organism | Surface area in m² | Volume in m³ | Surface area to volume ratio | |----------|-... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Table 6 shows information about five different organisms - AQA - GCSE Biology - Question 6 - 2022 - Paper 1
Step 1
What is the relationship between the size of an organism and its surface area to volume ratio?
Answer
As size increases, the surface area to volume ratio decreases. This is because when an organism grows, its volume increases at a faster rate than its surface area, leading to a lower ratio.
Step 2
Explain why organism D requires a respiratory system, but organism B does not require a respiratory system.
Answer
Organism D has a larger surface area to volume ratio, which means it loses heat more quickly and requires a more efficient gas exchange mechanism to maintain its temperature and meet metabolic demands. In contrast, organism B, having a smaller surface area to volume ratio, can rely on direct gas exchange through its skin since the diffusion distance is shorter and sufficient for its smaller size.
Step 3
Explain why the metabolic rate of organism D is greater than the metabolic rate of organism E.
Answer
Organism D has a larger surface area compared to its volume, leading to a higher rate of heat loss. To maintain a constant body temperature, it has to generate more heat through a higher metabolic rate. On the other hand, organism E has a smaller surface area to volume ratio, which allows it to retain heat more efficiently and therefore has a lower metabolic rate.
Step 4
Describe how the alveoli and the villi are adapted to increase absorption.
Answer
Alveoli and villi both have adaptations that enhance their surface area for absorption.
Alveoli: They are numerous and have thin walls to facilitate gas diffusion. The presence of a rich blood supply also helps maintain a concentration gradient for efficient gas exchange.
Villi: They have microvilli on their surfaces which further increase the surface area for absorption. Additionally, their wall structure is one cell thick to reduce diffusion distance, and they are closely related to blood supply to transport absorbed nutrients quickly.