Surface Area to Volume Ratio
Contents
Key Stage 4
Meaning
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.
About Surface Area to Volume Ratio
As the size of an object decreases the surface area becomes larger compared to the volume of the object. | ||
Area of 1 face x 6 : Volume 3x3 x 6 : 3x3x3 54cm2 : 27cm3 2cm2 : 1cm3 |
Area of 1 face x 6 : Volume 2x2 x 6 : 2x2x2 24cm2 : 8cm3 3cm2 : 1cm3 |
Area of 1 face x 6 : Volume 1x1 x 6 : 1x1x1 6cm2 : 1cm3 |
The surface area to volume ratio explains why
- A mouse will freeze quicker in cold temperatures than a bear because the larger the surface area the quicker an object can emit thermal energy and the smaller the volume the less thermal energy in the object.
- A mouse has a large surface area compared to its volume so it loses thermal energy quickly.
- Multicellular organisms need specialised tissues with large surface areas to absorb nutrients and Oxygen because the larger the surface area the quicker an object can absorb chemicals and the larger the volume the more chemicals the object needs.
- A multicellular organism has a large volume compared to its surface area so it needs parts of its body to have a large surface area to absorb enough nutrients and Oxygen.
- Catalysts work better when made into nanoparticles because their atoms interact with the chemicals to increase the rate of a reaction so when a catalyst is made into nanoparticles the number of atoms on the surface of the object is greater compared to the volume of catalyst.
Extra Information
References
AQA
- Surface area to volume ratio, page 201, GCSE Chemistry; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Surface area to volume ratio, pages 31, 32-3, GCSE Biology, Hodder, AQA
- Surface area to volume ration (SA:V), pages 78-9, 94-5, 107, 117, 339, GCSE Biology; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Surface area to volume rations, pages 20, 139, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Surface area to volume rations, pages 60, 61, GCSE Biology, CGP, AQA
- Surface area to volume ratios, pages 54, 55, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Biology, CGP, AQA
- Surface area tot volume rations, page 23, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
OCR
- Surface area to volume ratio, page 33, Gateway GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
- Surface area to volume ratio, pages 22, 71, Gateway GCSE Chemistry; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
- Surface area to volume ratio, pages 72-73, Gateway GCSE Biology, Oxford, OCR
- Surface area to volume ratio, pages 81, 305, Gateway GCSE Chemistry, Oxford, OCR
- Surface area to volume rations, pages 27, 132, Gateway GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR
- Surface area to volume rations; effect on reaction rate, page 132, Gateway GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR