Surface area to volume ratio decreases with increased cell size

Steps:

• Identify current surface area (SA) and volume (V) from diagram dimensions, yielding SA:V = 23:12.
• Compute current ratio: SA/V = 23/12 ≈ 1.92.
• Double cell width: SA scales by factor of ~2–4 (depending on faces affected), V scales by 8 (all dimensions effectively larger).
• New ratio < 23/12, confirming decrease.

Why C is correct:

• SA:V = 23:12 matches diagram calculations; doubling width follows the rule that volume grows faster (cubic) than SA (quadratic), reducing SA/V.

Why the others are wrong:

• A: 12:23 inverts SA:V (too low for cell); change incorrect as ratio decreases.
• B: 12:23 inverts SA:V; change wrong as ratio decreases, not increases.
• D: 23:12 correct for ratio but change wrong as ratio decreases, not increases.

Final answer: C