CHAPTER 10 TRANSPORT (TSA / V )

Aim/
Objective

To study the relationship between total surface area per volume ratio and
the rate of diffusion.

Problem

What is the relationship between total surface area per volume ratio and
the rate of diffusion?

Hypothesis

The larger the total surface area per volume ratio / the smaller the size of
cube, the faster the rate of diffusion.

Variables
Manipulated
Responding
Fixed

:
:
:

Total surface area per volume ratio / the size of cubes.

Rate of diffusion.
Volume of Sodium Hydroxide solution/ time taken.

Material
Apparatus

:
:

Potato, Colored water,

Penknife, white tiles, beaker, forceps, basin and transparent ruler.

Technique

Calculate the rate of diffusion by using a formula.

Rate of diffusion = Percentage of colored area (%min-1)
Time taken

Procedure

Result

Potato tissues are cut into 1 cm3, 8 cm3, 27 cm3 and 64 cm3 cubes.
Then the cubes are immersed into a basin containing 100ml of
colored water.
All the cubes are left for 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes, the outer surface of the cubes are dried with filter
paper and cut into two halves.
The percentage of colored area in each cube is estimated by using
a girded transparency.
The rate of diffusion of each cube is calculated.
The results are recorded in the table.

Size of cubes /
cm3
1

Percentage of colored
area / %

Rate of diffusion / %min-1

8
27
64
Rate of diffusion = Percentage of colored area (%min-1)
Time taken

Discussion

Conclusion

The smallest cube has the largest percentage colored area

whereas the largest cube has the smallest percentage colored
area.
The rate of diffusion is the highest in the smallest cube and the
lowest in the largest cube.
The larger the total surface area per volume ratio / the smaller the
size of cube, the higher the rate of diffusion.

The larger the total surface area per volume ratio / the smaller the size
of cube, the faster the rate of diffusion.
Hypothesis is accepted.