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Surface Area to Volume

Biology

9th - 12th Grade

NGSS covered

Used 749+ times

Surface Area to Volume
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This quiz focuses on the fundamental biological concept of surface area to volume ratio and its critical impact on cellular function, appropriate for high school biology students in grades 9-12. The questions systematically explore how cell size affects the efficiency of nutrient and waste exchange across cell membranes, requiring students to understand that smaller cells maintain higher surface area to volume ratios and therefore function more efficiently. Students must grasp the mathematical relationship that as cells grow larger, volume increases faster than surface area, creating limitations for material transport that ultimately constrains cell size. The quiz also incorporates practical applications such as cellular adaptations like microvilli that increase surface area, comparative physiology examples, and basic mathematical calculations involving ratios and geometric relationships. Students need to synthesize knowledge of cell membrane transport, mathematical proportional reasoning, and biological efficiency principles to demonstrate mastery of why cells must remain small to maintain homeostasis. Created by a biology teacher in the US who teaches grades 9-12, this quiz serves as an excellent formative assessment tool to gauge student understanding of cellular structure and function principles. Teachers can effectively use this quiz as a warm-up activity before diving deeper into cell division topics, as guided practice during instruction on cell membrane transport, or as homework to reinforce concepts after laboratory investigations involving cell size and diffusion. The quiz works particularly well as a review before unit tests on cellular biology and can help identify students who need additional support with mathematical applications in biological contexts. This assessment directly aligns with NGSS HS-LS1-2 (developing and using models to illustrate the hierarchical organization of interacting systems) and supports Common Core mathematical practices through ratio and proportional reasoning, making it an ideal cross-curricular tool that strengthens both scientific understanding and mathematical skill application in biological contexts.

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19 questions

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1.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What determines the rate of nutrients and waste are exchanged from the cell and the environment?

surface ratio
volume
surface area
surface area to volume ratio

2.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Which cells are more efficient at obtaining nutrients?

Small Cells
Medium Size Cells
Large Cells
X-Large Cells

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

3.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

As a cell becomes larger, its

surface area increases faster than its volume.
volume increases faster than its surface area

4.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

The larger 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.

True
False

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-2

5.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

As a cell’s size increases, its ratio of surface area to volume decreases.

True
False

6.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

The rate at which wastes are produced by a cell partially depends on the cell’s

surface area
volume

7.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

How can surface area (SA) be increased? 

Grow larger
Divide into smaller pieces

Tags

NGSS.HS-ETS1-2

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