Final answer:
While Laplace's law indicates smaller alveoli would have a greater chance of collapsing due to higher internal pressure, the presence of surfactant in the lungs counteracts this tendency, making the statement false.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Laplace's law, the pressure within an alveolus is inversely proportional to its radius. This means that, theoretically, the smaller the alveolus, the higher the pressure inside it, which could lead to a greater chance of collapsing. However, in the human body, this effect is counteracted by the presence of a substance called surfactant, which reduces surface tension within the alveoli. This unique property of surfactant prevents smaller alveoli from collapsing and helps maintain the stability of the alveoli during the process of breathing. Therefore, the statement is false because, while Laplace's law alone would suggest a smaller alveolus is more prone to collapse, the presence of surfactant in the lungs changes the balance of forces to prevent such collapse.