A young snake eats and digests a mouse. The increase in the snake’s mass equals(1 point)

Responses

the mass of the mouse plus the original mass of the snake.
the mass of the mouse plus the original mass of the snake.
the mass of the mouse plus the mass of waste produced by the snake.
the mass of the mouse plus the mass of waste produced by the snake.
the mass of the mouse minus the mass of waste produced by the snake.
the mass of the mouse minus the mass of waste produced by the snake.
only the mass of the mouse

1 answer

The correct response is: the mass of the mouse minus the mass of waste produced by the snake.

This is because when the snake digests the mouse, it will assimilate some of the mass into its own body, while some of the mass will be excreted as waste. Therefore, the increase in the snake’s mass is equal to the mass of the mouse minus the mass of any waste produced.