Surface area to volume ratio

Medium
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Question 5
Medium

Table 2 shows the nose-to-tail length and mass of two juvenile harbor seals.

Table 2

Harbor SealLength / cmMass / kg
A16090.00
B12545.00

The surface area of a harbor seal is estimated using the following formula: Surface area in m2=length in cm×mass in kg4000\text{Surface area in m}^2 = \sqrt{\frac{\text{length in cm} \times \text{mass in kg}}{4000}}Surface area in m2=4000length in cm×mass in kg​​

The volume of a harbor seal is estimated using the following formula: Volume in m3=mass in kg1000\text{Volume in m}^3 = \frac{\text{mass in kg}}{1000}Volume in m3=1000mass in kg​

Using suitable calculations, deduce which seal has the smaller surface area to volume ratio.

Show your working and complete the sentence below.

Give your answer to 3 significant figures.

Seal ________ has the smaller surface area to volume ratio which = ________.

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Surface area to volume ratio Questions

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