Final answer:
The relationship between absorbance and the number of bacteria in a broth sample can be explained through turbidity, which is measured using a spectrophotometer. An increase in the number of bacteria leads to a higher absorbance reading.
Step-by-step explanation:
The relationship between absorbance and the number of bacteria in a broth sample can be explained through a phenomenon called turbidity. Turbidity refers to the cloudiness or haziness of a liquid, which is caused by the presence of suspended particles, including bacteria. As the number of bacteria in the broth sample increases, the turbidity also increases, resulting in a higher absorbance.
This relationship can be quantitatively measured using a spectrophotometer. A spectrophotometer measures the absorbance of light by a sample at a specific wavelength. When a broth sample containing more bacteria is placed in a spectrophotometer, it will absorb more light at the specific wavelength, resulting in a higher absorbance reading.
For example, if a broth sample with a low concentration of bacteria has an absorbance of 0.2, and another sample with a higher concentration of bacteria has an absorbance of 0.6, it indicates that the second sample has a higher number of bacteria.
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