IGCSE Biology / Life processes

What changes the rate of movement

Edexcel International GCSE Biology (4BI1), chapter 1: Life processes, specification point 2.16, 2.51. Part of the full course.

Read the revision notes · IGCSE Biology past papers

The rate of movement into and out of cells depends on surface area, distance, concentration gradient and temperature. Surface area to volume ratio helps explain why large organisms need specialised exchange surfaces.

More lessons in Life processes

• The characteristics of living organisms
• Animal and plant cells under the microscope
• The light microscope and magnification
• Temperature, pH and denaturing
• Practical: measuring enzyme activity
• Anaerobic respiration and how it differs from aerobic
• Practical: enzymes and food
• Aerobic respiration and ATP
• Practical: showing that respiring seeds give out carbon dioxide and heat
• Diffusion
• Osmosis
• Active transport
• Stem cells and differentiation
• Cells, tissues, organs and systems
• Enzymes and the active site