Surface Area
Definition
Surface area refers to the total area that the surface of an object occupies. In biology, it's crucial because it affects absorption and release rates for substances entering or leaving cells.
Related terms
Plasma Membrane: This is like your skin but for cells; it controls what enters or leaves the cell based on its surface area.
Diffusion Rate: This is how fast substances move across surfaces such as membranes – think about sweat evaporating off your skin faster when you're spread out versus curled up!
Absorption: This is the process of taking substances into a cell, much like your skin absorbing lotion.
"Surface Area" appears in:
Subjects (2)
AP Calculus AB/BC
AP Chemistry
Study guides (1)
AP Biology - 2.3 Cell Size
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Resources
Cram Mode
AP Score Calculators
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Glossary
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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.