Question

a young snake eats and digests a mouse. the increase in the snake’s mass equals (1 point) the mass of the mouse plus the mass of waste produced by the snake. the mass of the mouse plus the original mass of the snake. the mass of the mouse minus the mass of waste produced by the snake. only the mass of the mouse

Explanation:

To determine the increase in the snake's mass after eating and digesting a mouse, we consider the law of conservation of mass in biological processes. When the snake eats the mouse, it digests part of the mouse's mass, but some is excreted as waste. The increase in the snake's mass comes from the mass of the mouse that is assimilated (not excreted as waste). So, the increase in the snake's mass equals the mass of the mouse minus the mass of waste produced by the snake.

• The first option is incorrect because adding waste mass would not contribute to the snake's mass increase (waste is removed).
• The second option is incorrect as the original mass of the snake is not part of the "increase" (the increase is the additional mass gained, not the sum with the original mass).
• The fourth option is incorrect because the snake does not assimilate the entire mass of the mouse (some is excreted as waste).

Answer:

the mass of the mouse minus the mass of waste produced by the snake.