Problem 38
Question
Both the La Plata river dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) and the sperm whale ( Physeter macrocephalus) belong to the suborder Odontoceti (individuals that have teeth). A La Plata river dolphin weighs between 30 and \(50 \mathrm{~kg}\), whereas a sperm whale weighs between 35,000 and \(40,000 \mathrm{~kg} .\) A sperm whale is \(\quad\) order(s) of magnitude heavier than a La Plata river dolphin.
Step-by-Step Solution
Verified Answer
A sperm whale is 3 orders of magnitude heavier than a La Plata river dolphin.
1Step 1: Identify the weight ranges
First, identify the weight ranges for both the La Plata river dolphin and the sperm whale using the given information: The La Plata river dolphin weighs between 30 kg and 50 kg, and the sperm whale weighs between 35,000 kg and 40,000 kg.
2Step 2: Calculate the ratio of weights
Calculate the ratio of the maximum weights of the sperm whale to the La Plata river dolphin to determine how many times heavier the sperm whale is compared to the dolphin. Choose the maximum values for rough estimation: \[ \text{Ratio} = \frac{40,000 \, \text{kg}}{50 \, \text{kg}} = 800 \]
3Step 3: Find the order of magnitude
The order of magnitude is determined by how many times 10 comes into the ratio. Since 800 can be approximated to \(10^3\) (or 1000), this tells us the sperm whale's weight exceeds that of the dolphin by 3 orders of magnitude.
Key Concepts
Order of MagnitudeWeight Ratio CalculationOdontoceti Suborder
Order of Magnitude
When comparing sizes or weights, the term "order of magnitude" often comes up. But what does it mean in simple terms? An order of magnitude is essentially a way to understand the scale or size difference between numbers using powers of ten.
For instance, a change of one order of magnitude means multiplying or dividing a quantity by ten. So, when we say that the sperm whale is three orders of magnitude heavier than the La Plata river dolphin, we mean it is approximately 1000 times heavier.
Understanding orders of magnitude helps simplify comparisons and makes it easier to grasp the massive differences in scale. This concept is extremely useful in fields like biology, where organisms can vary significantly in size.
For instance, a change of one order of magnitude means multiplying or dividing a quantity by ten. So, when we say that the sperm whale is three orders of magnitude heavier than the La Plata river dolphin, we mean it is approximately 1000 times heavier.
Understanding orders of magnitude helps simplify comparisons and makes it easier to grasp the massive differences in scale. This concept is extremely useful in fields like biology, where organisms can vary significantly in size.
Weight Ratio Calculation
Calculating a weight ratio is all about comparing two weights to see how many times one quantity fits into another. To do this, you simply divide the larger weight by the smaller weight.
In our exercise, we found that the weight ratio of the sperm whale to the river dolphin was calculated using their maximum weights: 40,000 kg for the whale and 50 kg for the dolphin. This yields a ratio of 800, meaning the whale's maximum weight is 800 times the dolphin's.
Performing weight ratio calculations helps when trying to understand the scale, showing how much bigger or smaller one object is compared to another. It's a straightforward yet powerful tool in analyzing biological data.
In our exercise, we found that the weight ratio of the sperm whale to the river dolphin was calculated using their maximum weights: 40,000 kg for the whale and 50 kg for the dolphin. This yields a ratio of 800, meaning the whale's maximum weight is 800 times the dolphin's.
Performing weight ratio calculations helps when trying to understand the scale, showing how much bigger or smaller one object is compared to another. It's a straightforward yet powerful tool in analyzing biological data.
- Identify the quantities to compare.
- Divide the larger by the smaller.
- Interpret the result: the number of times heavier or lighter one is than the other.
Odontoceti Suborder
The Odontoceti suborder is fascinating for its unique members. All odontocetes are toothed whales, which means they have teeth rather than baleen plates, like other types of whales.
This group includes various types of dolphins and whales, like the La Plata river dolphin and sperm whale mentioned in our exercise.
Odontocetes are often predators, using their teeth to catch and eat prey, setting them apart from their baleen counterparts that filter-feed on small organisms like krill.
Evolutionarily, this adaptation has led to a wide range of species under this suborder, each with its distinct ecological niche. Understanding the suborder helps us appreciate the diversity and survival strategies of these incredible marine animals.
This group includes various types of dolphins and whales, like the La Plata river dolphin and sperm whale mentioned in our exercise.
Odontocetes are often predators, using their teeth to catch and eat prey, setting them apart from their baleen counterparts that filter-feed on small organisms like krill.
Evolutionarily, this adaptation has led to a wide range of species under this suborder, each with its distinct ecological niche. Understanding the suborder helps us appreciate the diversity and survival strategies of these incredible marine animals.
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