Final answer:
The statement about relative growth rate being the change in a plant's size over time is TRUE. This concept is significant in biology, reflecting on exponential or geometric growth and the importance of calculus in understanding growth patterns. Different plant parts exhibit distinct growth behaviors such as indeterminate and determinate growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that a relative growth rate is the change in size of a plant during some period of time is TRUE. The relative growth rate specifically refers to the rate at which a plant's size changes relative to its current size over a given time period. To calculate it, you would use the formula growth rate = ΔS/Δt = k * S, where ΔS/Δt is the change in size divided by the change in time, S is the total plant size, and k is a constant variable representing the rate of growth. In biology, this is akin to the concept of 'exponential' or ‘geometric' population growth, and it illustrates why an understanding of calculus can be beneficial for biology students.
It's important to remember that a positive growth rate indicates that the quantity is increasing. If the growth rate is smaller, the increase is happening more slowly. Conversely, a larger growth rate signifies a quicker growth, and a negative growth rate indicates that the plant's size is decreasing.
Some parts of plants exhibit indeterminate growth, such as stems and roots, where they keep growing throughout a plant's life. On the other hand, other parts like leaves and flowers have determinate growth, ceasing to grow once they reach a specific size.