Smaller animals tend to lose body heat very fast as compared to larger animals because they have

Options

A. Higher surface to volume ratio
B. Lower surface to volume ratio
C. Equal values of surface and volume
D. Very low BMR (basal metabolic rate)

Answer

To solve the question, we need to analyze why smaller animals lose body heat faster than larger animals. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the reasoning:

### Step 1: Understand the Concept of Surface Area and Volume
- **Surface Area**: This is the total area that the surface of an object occupies. For animals, this is important because it relates to how heat is exchanged with the environment.
- **Volume**: This is the amount of space that an object occupies. In the context of animals, it relates to the amount of heat generated internally through metabolic processes.

### Step 2: Analyze the Surface to Volume Ratio
- The **Surface to Volume Ratio (SVR)** is calculated by dividing the surface area by the volume of an object.
- Smaller animals have a **higher surface to volume ratio** compared to larger animals. This means that for every unit of volume (which generates heat), there is a larger area available for heat loss.

### Step 3: Relate SVR to Heat Loss
- Because smaller animals have a higher surface to volume ratio, they lose heat more quickly to their surroundings.
- In contrast, larger animals have a lower surface to volume ratio, which means they retain heat more effectively because their volume (which generates heat) is larger relative to their surface area (which loses heat).

### Step 4: Conclusion
- Therefore, the reason smaller animals tend to lose body heat very fast compared to larger animals is that they have a **higher surface to volume ratio**.

### Final Answer
Smaller animals tend to lose body heat very fast as compared to larger animals because they have a **higher surface to volume ratio**.

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