A student is examining a bacterium under the microscope. The E. coli bacterial c

kursval7z

kursval7z

Answered question

2021-11-23

A student is examining a bacterium under the microscope. The E. coli bacterial cell has a mass of m=0.100 fg (where a femtogram, fg, is 1015 g) and is swimming at a velocity of v=1.00um/s, with an uncertainty in the velocity of 5.00%. E. coli bacterial cells are around 1 um (106 m) in length. The student is supposed to observe the bacterium and make a drawing. However, the student, having just learned about the Heisenberg uncertainty principle in physics class, complains that she cannot make the drawing. She claims that the uncertainty of the bacteriums

Answer & Explanation

Anot1954

Anot1954

Beginner2021-11-24Added 16 answers

First calculate the uncertainly in the velocity
v=0.05(1×106)=5×108 m/s
From the Heisenberg uncertainty principle
xmv=h4π
Rearrange the above equation to solve for x which is the uncertainty in the position
x=h4πmv
x=6.62×10344π(0.1×1015)(5×108)
x=1.05×1011 m

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