Final answer:
Several small sugar cubes dissolve faster than one large sugar cube of the same total volume, due to the increased surface area which allows for greater interaction with the solvent, accelerating the rate of dissolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rate at which sugar dissolves in water depends on several factors, including the surface area of the sugar and the agitation of the solution. When you compare several small sugar cubes to one big sugar cube, the smaller cubes will dissolve faster because they have a greater combined surface area exposed to the water. This increased surface area allows for more solvent molecules to interact with the solute at any given time, enhancing the rate of dissolution.
Additionally, if you were to agitate the solution by stirring, this would facilitate the dissolving process by allowing fresh solvent to come into contact with the solute, further speeding up the dissolution. Finally, temperature also has an effect; the dissolution process typically accelerates in warmer water, so if these sugar cubes were placed in hot water, they would dissolve even more quickly.