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

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The mouse will cool down faster because it has a higher surface-area-to-volume ratio, which means it has more surface area in proportion to its body size to release heat through. This allows for a greater rate of heat loss to the surrounding environment, resulting in a faster cooling rate. The elephant's lower surface-area-to-volume ratio means it has less surface area in proportion to its body size, making it more difficult to release heat and cool down quickly.

An Elephant and a Mouse Are Running in Full Sunlight