Question

Describe two ways that decreasing temperature would affect the rate of diffusion of molecules across a cell’s plasma membrane.

Short answer

Due to a decrease in temperature the kinetic energy of the plasma membrane will also be decreased so that the rate of diffusion alters.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Describing ways by which rate of diffusion affect

The two ways that decreasing temperature would affect the rate of diffusion of molecules across a cell’s plasma membrane includes;

1. Either a decrease in temperature will decrease the kinetic energy in the whole system.
2. Or by a decrease in temperature will decrease the kinetic energy in the plasma membrane.

Step 2. Explanation 

In the system, the kinetic energy will be decreased due to decreasing in the temperature. Less energy will be there in the molecules if the temperature is low, hence the molecules will move at a slower speed.

In a plasma membrane also the molecule’s kinetic energy will be decreased if there is a low in temperature by compressing the plasma membrane together. From this, the density of the plasma membrane will be increased, which slows down the diffusion into the cell.