Explain why the Senate can function effectively with a far more informal atmosphere then the House of Representatives?

This statement has been truer in the past than it is in
today's more polarized atmosphere.  However, the Senate typically can do this because of
the more "collegial" atmosphere that is possible in the
Senate.

Senators typically get to know one another much
better the Representatives do.  There are many fewer Senators and they serve much longer
terms than the Representatives do.  This means that they have many more chances to get
to know one another.  In addition, they represent much bigger areas and are therefore
usually less able to hold extreme views because they have to appeal to a broader range
of voters than Representatives do.  For these reasons, they have typically been able to
work more consensually with one another even in a less formal and structured
house.