A scientist compares root hair cells from radish seedlings growing in the same moist soil. The projections on the cells differ in length. For each cell, the scientist records the area in contact with soil water, the absorption rate, the number of mitochondria and the thickness of the cell wall.
Which observation would best support the function of the projections on these cells?
cells with a smaller contact area have a higher absorption rate
cells with a greater contact area have a higher absorption rate
absorption rate increases with mitochondria number but not with contact area
absorption rate increases as cell walls become thinner but not with contact area
80 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Biology 6.2 Transport in plants, covering 6.2.1 Root hair cell adaptations, 6.2.2 Structure of xylem and phloem, 6.2.3 Transpiration and stomata, 6.2.4 Translocation of sucrose, 6.2.5 Leaf structure for photosynthesis, 6.2.6 Environmental factors on water uptake, 6.2.7 Rate calculations for transpiration, and 6.2.8 Plant adaptations to extreme environments. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.