Final answer:
A. True, forced convection leads to a higher rate of heat transfer compared to free convection due to external mechanisms like fans enhancing the movement of heat.
Step-by-step explanation:
Compared to free convection, forced convection does result in a higher rate of heat transfer between an organism and the environment. The statement is true (a). In free or natural convection, the flow of heat is driven by buoyant forces where hot fluid rises and colder fluid sinks because density decreases with increasing temperature. This is a slow process and depends on the natural movement of air or water.
Forced convection, on the other hand, involves external means to move the fluid such as fans or pumps, facilitating a more rapid transfer of heat. For instance, wind chill is an example of how moving air can increase heat loss, simulating colder conditions. Similarly, a fan can make you feel colder by increasing the heat transfer rate from your skin to the air compared to when the air is stationary.