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Surface area to volume ratio

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Question 10

The following equation can be used to estimate the specific metabolic rate of a mammal:

Specific metabolic rate=54×BM−0.25 \text{Specific metabolic rate} = 54 \times \text{BM}^{-0.25} Specific metabolic rate=54×BM−0.25

where:

  • BM\text{BM}BM is the body mass of the mammal in grams (g\text{g}g).
  • Specific metabolic rate is measured in cm3 O2 g−1 h−1\text{cm}^3\text{ O}_2\text{ g}^{-1}\text{ h}^{-1}cm3 O2​ g−1 h−1.

A bumblebee bat has a body mass of 2.0 g2.0\text{ g}2.0 g. A grizzly bear has a body mass of 320,000 g320,000\text{ g}320,000 g.

Use this equation to calculate how many times faster the specific metabolic rate of the bumblebee bat is than the specific metabolic rate of the grizzly bear.

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Surface area to volume ratio Questions

  1. A Level
  2. /Biology
  3. /Surface area to volume ratio