Physics POGIL: Scale In this POGIL we will look at how the volume and surface area of an object changes

as we increase its dimensions. How surface area and volume change relative to each other affects the properties of the object and has implications for biological systems, construction, the development of scale models, and a multitude of other applications. Scaling Dimensions, Surface Area, and Volume When we talk about an object being scaled up in size, we mean that each dimension (length, width, and height) is changed by a certain factor. For example, the rectangular prism below has dimensions of 1 cm 4 cm 2 cm. 1 cm 2 cm 4 cm If we scale the prism by a factor of 3, its new dimensions are 3 cm 12 cm 6 cm.

3 cm 6 cm 12 cm Notice that this scales up the surface area of the prism as well as its volume. 1. In the chart below, fill in the volume and surface area of each of the rectangular prisms in the example above. Include the appropriate units in the column headings. prism dimensions 1 cm 4 cm 2 cm 3 cm 12 cm 6 cm volume (units: ) surface area (units: )

2. In the example above, we scaled up the rectangular prism by a factor of 3. (a) By what factor did the volume change?

(b) By what factor did the surface area change?

3. Now consider a cube 1 cm on a side. Suppose we scale up the cube by factors of 2, 3, and 4. A diagram of each cube is shown below.

cube #1 1 cm on a side

cube #2 scaled by a factor of 2

cube #3 scaled by a factor of 3

cube #4 scaled by a factor of 4

(a) In the chart below, fill in the length of a side, the surface area, and the volume of each cube. cube #1 #2 #3 #4 length of a side (units: cm) 1 surface area (units: ) volume (units: )

(b) In the chart below, fill in the factors by which the surface area and volume change relative to cube #1 as each cube is scaled up. cube #2 #3 #4 4. As an object is scaled up in size, which increases faster: linear dimension or surface area? Justify your answer. factor by which surface area changed factor by which volume changed

5. As an object is scaled up in size, which increases faster: surface area or volume? Justify your answer.

Effects of Scaling As objects are scaled up in size, the difference in the changes in linear dimension, surface area, and volume relative to each other will affect the properties of those objects. This is true when the properties are dependent on surface area or volume. 6. Imagine we are baking a loaf of bread in a 10 cm 30 cm 20 cm pan. Baking the bread requires an input of 1000 J of heat energy into the dough in 30 minutes. We now wish to bake a loaf that is scaled up by a factor of 2. (a) Comparing the bigger loaf of bread to the original, will the surface area change by a factor less than 2, equal to 2, or greater than 2?

(b) Comparing the bigger loaf of bread to the original, will the volume change by a factor less than 2, equal to 2, or greater than 2?

(c) Comparing the bigger loaf of bread to the original, will the time required to bake the bread be less than 30 minutes, equal to 30 minutes, or greater than 30 minutes? Justify your answer.

(d) Will the amount of energy needed to bake the bigger loaf be less than 2000 J (twice the energy required to bake the original loaf), equal to 2000 J, or greater than 2000 J? Justify your answer.

7. Imagine we are waiting for a large pile of snow to melt in the warm spring sun. We may end up waiting all day if we don't use concepts of scaling to help us. So let's take the pile of snow and divide it up into 100 smaller snowballs. (a) By dividing the pile into smaller snowballs, has the total volume of snow increased, decreased, or remain unchanged?

(b) By dividing the pile into smaller snowballs, has the total surface area of snow increased, decreased, or remain unchanged?

(c) Explain why the snow melts faster by dividing it up into smaller snowballs.

8. As an object is scaled up, why does the surface area increase faster than the linear dimensions?

9. As an object is scaled up, why does the volume increase faster than the surface area?

10. Why do the properties of objects often change as they are scaled up?

Problems 11. Consider a sphere having a radius of 1 cm. Suppose we scale up the sphere by factors of 2, 3, and 4. A diagram of each sphere is shown below. sphere #1 1 cm radius

sphere #2 scaled by a factor of 2

sphere #3 scaled by a factor of 3

sphere #4 scaled by a factor of 4

(a) In the chart below, fill in the radius, the surface area, and the volume of each sphere. sphere #1 #2 #3 #4 radius (units: cm) 1 surface area (units: ) volume (units: )

(b) In the chart below, fill in the factors by which the surface area and volume change relative to sphere #1 as each sphere is scaled up. sphere #2 #3 #4 (c) Party balloons are made from latex. Suppose a balloon that holds 4000 cm3 of air requires 1200 cm2 of latex. If we want to scale down the size of the balloon so that it holds half as much air, will the amount of latex required for such a balloon be more than 600 cm2, less than 600 cm2, or equal to 600 cm2? factor by which surface area changed factor by which volume changed