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) The mouse will because it has the lower surface-area-to-volume ratio.
E) They will cool at the same rate because they overheated by the same amount.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The mouse will cool down faster because it has a higher surface-area-to-volume ratio. This means that a greater proportion of its body is exposed to the environment, allowing for more efficient heat transfer. The elephant, with its lower surface-area-to-volume ratio, has less surface area relative to its volume, meaning it will require more time to cool down.

An Elephant and a Mouse Are Running in Full Sunlight