nmdcat.online
BIO NMDCAT Biological Importance of Water
nmdcat.online June 27, 2026

The reason that a water strider insect does not sink is that its weight is insufficient to

A. Overcome the high specific heat of the water's surface
B. Break the hydrogen bonds responsible for the high surface tension of water
✓
C. Displace the water that has a density much lower than its body
D. Increase the adhesive forces between the water and the insect's legs

📝 Explanation

The insect's mass is distributed over its long hydrophobic legs so that the force per unit area is less than the surface tension. The cohesive hydrogen bonds at the water-air interface create a strong film that resists being broken by the light insect.

📖 Additional Information

  • Overcome the high specific heat of the water's surface
  • Break the hydrogen bonds responsible for the high surface tension of water
  • Displace the water that has a density much lower than its body
  • Increase the adhesive forces between the water and the insect's legs

The insect's mass is distributed over its long hydrophobic legs so that the force per unit area is less than the surface tension. The cohesive hydrogen bonds at the water-air interface create a strong film that resists being broken by the light insect.

🔗 Share This Question

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

🧭 Navigate Questions

Previous Question

The biological importance of the transparency of water to visible light is that it

Next Question

The formation of a meniscus (curved surface) in a graduated cylinder is a direct result of the interplay between

Back to All Questions

🔗 Related MCQs

An increase in the incidence of ectopic pregnancies within a population can often be epidemiologically correlated with a prior increase in the prevalence of which sexually transmitted disease?
July 16, 2026
In the life cycle of Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2), the virus travels along nerve fibers to reach the sensory ganglia. The cellular mechanism responsible for this retrograde transport utilizes:
July 16, 2026
A defining characteristic of the lesions associated with the secondary stage of syphilis is that they:
July 16, 2026
The causative agent of genital herpes, HSV-2, is enveloped. The biological significance of this viral envelope in the context of transmission is that it makes the virus:
July 16, 2026
The structural basis for the severe cardiovascular complications seen in tertiary syphilis, such as aortic aneurysms, is the chronic inflammation and destruction of:
July 16, 2026

Categories

View all →