in a cell, how is facilitated diffusion similar and different from regular diffusion?

Answer 1

Alike: both have substances going from higher to lower concentration; both are passive.

Different: facilitated diffusion has substances passing through a channel protein; regular diffusion has substances slipping between the phospholipids of the plasma membrane

Answer 2

Regular diffusion is just what it says, a free flowing molecule goes through the semi-permeable membrane of the cell. Fascilitated diffusion is where molecuales are helped through the cell membrane either through protein channels or ion channels.

Read more here:

http://www.biology-online.org/9/3_movement_molecules.htm

Answer 3

facilitated diffusion requires energy, which differs from diffusion.
they are the same because they are both moving something from an area of greater concentration to an area of lesser concentration across some sort of membrane.
(facilitated diffusion can also be active transport, and go from an area of lesser concentration to an area of greater concentration)... but for the sake of argument it is just that say, a large particle has to get thru the phospholipid bilayer... facilitated diffusion is necessary to move it thru... generally thru a "gated channel" or "pump", which are proteins embedded in the phospholipid bilayer.