Question

Calculate the approximate number of atoms in a bacterium, assuming the average mass of an atom is ten times the mass of a hydrogen atom. The mass of a bacterium is 10−15 kg and the mass of a hydrogen atom is of the order of 10−27 kg.

Answer 1

To find the number of atoms in a bacterium, one must divide the mass of the bacterium (10^-15 kg) by the average mass of an atom, which is 1.67 × 10^-26 kg (ten times the mass of a hydrogen atom). The result is approximately 6 × 10^10 atoms.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the approximate number of atoms in a bacterium, we assume the average mass of an atom is ten times that of a hydrogen atom. The mass of one hydrogen atom is approximately 1.67 × 10-27 kg, and thus the average mass of an atom in the bacterium would be 10 × 1.67 × 10-27 kg or 1.67 × 10-26 kg.

Given that the mass of the bacterium is 10-15 kg, the number of atoms in the bacterium can be found using the formula:

Number of atoms = Mass of bacterium / Mass of one average atom

Substituting the values, we get:

Number of atoms = 10-15 kg / 1.67 × 10-26 kg which equals approximately 6 × 1010 atoms.

Answer 2

Answer: -

The approximate number of atoms in a bacterium is 10¹¹

Explanation: -

We are given the mass of a bacterium is 10⁻¹⁵ kg.

We are told that the mass of a hydrogen atom is 10⁻²⁷ kg.

Finally we learn that the average mass of an atom of the bacterium is ten times the mass of a hydrogen atom.

Mass of an atom of bacterium = 10 x mass of hydrogen atom

= 10 x 10⁻²⁷ kg.

= 10⁻²⁶ kg.

Thus the number of atoms in a bacterium =
`(Total mass)/(mass of 1 bacterium atom)`

=
`(10-15 kg)/(10-26 kg)`

= 10¹¹