An elephant and a mouse are running in full sunlight, and both overheat by the same amount above their normal body temperatures. When they move into the shade and rest, which animal will cool down faster?

A. The elephant will because it has the higher surface-area-to-volume ratio.

B. The elephant will because it has the lower surface-area-to-volume ratio.

C. The mouse will because it has the higher surface-area-to-volume ratio.

D. They will cool at the same rate because they overheated by the same amount

Question

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Biology

22 May, 10:52

An elephant and a mouse are running in full sunlight, and both overheat by the same amount above their normal body temperatures. When they move into the shade and rest, which animal will cool down faster?

A. The elephant will because it has the higher surface-area-to-volume ratio.

B. The elephant will because it has the lower surface-area-to-volume ratio.

C. The mouse will because it has the higher surface-area-to-volume ratio.

D. They will cool at the same rate because they overheated by the same amount

+2

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Jerimiah Foley · Answer 1

The mouse will because it has the higher surface-area-to-volume ratio.

Explanation:

The living organisms maintain their homeostasis by maintaining their internal constant environment as external environment changes. These organisms are known as exothermic animal.

The surface area to volume ratio in case of living organisms plays an important role. The small species has high surface area to volume ratio as compared to the larger species. The diffusion, cooling and other process is faster in the small size species. The mouse body will get cool faster than elephant species.

Thus, the correct answer is option (3).