Final answer:
An ECG small square measures 0.04 seconds horizontally and represents 0.1 mV vertically. Calculations based on the RC time constant formula show how to set a circuit's resistance and capacitance for measuring voltage variations. Modern technology allows us to easily meet these requirements.
Step-by-step explanation:
The electrocardiogram (ECG) is a crucial tool used to assess the heart's electrical and muscular functions. Typically, an ECG paper is divided into small squares; each small square represents a duration of 0.04 seconds horizontally, which is the time axis, and vertically, 0.1 mV (millivolts) for the voltage axis.
To answer part of the question relating to the ECG monitor's RC time constant, we can use the formula τ = RC where τ (tau) is the RC time constant, R is the resistance, and C is the capacitance. To allow measurements of voltage variations over small time intervals, the RC time constant should be small. For (a), with R = 1.00 kΩ and τ less than 100 μs (microseconds), the formula rearranges to C = τ / R = (1.00 × 10² μs) / (1.00 kΩ), giving us a maximum capacitance for the circuit. For (b), with modern electronic components, it is typically not difficult to achieve the required small capacitance in practice.