1.For a cell that is 100 micrometers on one side,
Let assume that the cell is cuboidal in shape,
surface area of one side = 100 * 100 = 10000 micrometers
There are six sides to a cube,
Thus, total surface area = 6*1000 = 6000
Volume = 100 * 100 *100 = 1,000,000
Surface to volume ratio = 6000/1000000
0.006.
Therefore, the surface area to volume ration for the cell is 0.006.
2. This surface area to volume ratio is not good for the cell. This is because, the surface area to volume ratio is too small.
In order for a cell to effectively obtain the nutrients that it needs through the diffusion process, the ratio of the surface area of the cell to its volume must be high, if not the cell will not be able to get adequate nutrients for its survival and this may lead to its death. Cells divides continuously majorly because they want to maintain high surface area to volume ratio of their cells. A cell that is too big will have low surface area to volume ratio.
