There are two types of transport in cells: passive transport, which does not require energy and involves diffusion of particles from areas of higher to lower concentration, and active transport, which uses cellular energy and is required for the diffusion of water across semi-permeable membranes or for maintaining concentration gradients of substances against their gradients. Osmosis is a type of passive transport where water diffuses through semi-permeable membranes from areas of higher to lower water concentration and can affect cell volume depending on the solution tonicity.