the smaller a cell is, the more difficult it is for the cell to move enough nutrients and wastes across its cell membrane to maintain its normal functions. is this true or false about the smaller part?

Question

wolfe8 · Answer

Welcome to OpenStudy. Let's think about it. If you have a small city, would it be difficult to get seafood from the edge of it to the center?

anonymous · Answer

no because its small so you would be able to get to it easier

wolfe8 · Answer

Yup. So now imagine a cell needing nutrients from the outside to the inside or center of it.

anonymous · Answer

so its true that the smaller it is the harder it is

wolfe8 · Answer

But you just said a small city would be able to transport seafood from the edge to the center easily.

anonymous · Answer

ohhh so the larger the cell is the harder it is because its larger

wolfe8 · Answer

Yeah. Ok let me lay out the idea:

In a big city, you will take hours to bring something to the center or something to the outside whereas in a smaller city, you will take less time. This is because of the different radius(if we imagine them like cells, circular or more so)

anonymous · Answer

The ratio of surface area (which governs diffusion) to volume (which governs need) is r^2 / r^= 1/r, so as r gets smaller diffusion gets relatively more effective per volume.