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(a) Calculate the number of cells in a hummingbird, assuming the mass of an average cell is ten times the mass of a bacterium. (b) Making the same assumption, how many cells are there in a human?

a) (a) Approximately 10^14 cells, (b) Approximately 10^16 cells
b) (a) Approximately 10^16 cells, (b) Approximately 10^18 cells
c) (a) Approximately 10^18 cells, (b) Approximately 10^20 cells
d) (a) Approximately 10^20 cells, (b) Approximately 10^22 cells

User Judilyn
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1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

The number of cells in a hummingbird is approximately 3 x 10^11, while a human has approximately 7 x 10^15 cells, based on the assumptions provided and scientific notation calculations. The provided options do not match these results exactly.

Step-by-step explanation:

To calculate the number of cells in a hummingbird and a human, we need to make some estimations and use scientific notation for accuracy and practicality. We have been given that the mass of an average cell is ten times the mass of a bacterium.

It has been established that the mass of a typical bacterium is on the order of 10-15 kg. If one bacterium contains approximately 1012 protons, and assuming that a cell is ten times heavier than a bacterium, we can estimate that the mass of an average cell is 10-14 kg.

Considering that an average hummingbird weighs around 3 grams (3 x 10-3 kg) and the average human weighs about 70 kilograms, we can divide their respective masses by the mass of an average cell to estimate the number of cells:


The options given in the question do not match these calculations - the closest options would be (a) for the number of cells in a hummingbird and (b) for the number of cells in a human, but the precise calculations indicate that (a) should be approximately 3 x 1011 cells and (b) should be approximately 7 x 1015 cells.

User Glen Pierce
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