What is the difference between active and passive transport across the plasma membrane? what is the difference between active and passive transport across the plasma membrane? active transport means that the cell is actively going after substances that it wants to bring into the cell, whereas passive transport means that the cell just waits for the substance to cross the membrane. active transport implies that the cell is working with other cells, whereas passive transport implies that the cell does not cooperate with other cells. active transport is atp dependent, whereas passive transport uses only the kinetic energy of the particles for movement across the plasma membrane. active transport is used to move substances down their concentration gradient, whereas passive transport is used to move substances against their concentration gradient?