Surface Area to Volume Ratio

Key Stage 4

The surface area to volume ratio is the relationship between the volume of an object and the surface area of that object which can be used to explain how the properties of a material or object can change due to the size of the object.

As the size of an object decreases the surface area becomes larger compared to the volume of the object.

The surface area to volume ratio explains why a mouse will freeze quicker in cold temperatures than a bear and why multicellular organisms need specialised tissues with large surface areas to absorb nutrients and Oxygen.


Surface Area : Volume Area of 1 face x 6 : Volume 3x3 x 6 : 3x3x3 54cm^{2<\sup> : 27cm³} 2cm^{2<\sup> : 1cm³}	Surface Area : Volume Area of 1 face x 6 : Volume 2x2 x 6 : 2x2x2 24cm^{2<\sup> : 8cm³} 3cm^{2<\sup> : 1cm³}	Surface Area : Volume Area of 1 face x 6 : Volume 1x1 x 6 : 1x1x1 6cm^{2<\sup> : 1cm³}