Systems
Scaling Law
A mathematical relationship describing how a quantity changes as the size of a system changes. Often expressed as power laws where one quantity scales as another raised to some exponent.
Biological Context
Metabolic rate scales with body mass to the 3/4 power. Surface area scales with volume to the 2/3 power. These scaling relationships constrain what's possible at different sizes—elephants can't have the proportions of ants. Scaling laws reveal deep organizing principles.