Question

The speed of propagation of the action potential (an electrical signal) in a nerve cell depends (inversely) on the diameter of the axon (nerve fiber). If the nerve cell connecting the spinal cord to your feet is 1.1 m long, and the nerve impulse speed is 18 m/s, how long does it take for the nerve signal to travel this distance?

a) 61.1 ms
b) 68.2 ms
c) 61.1 s
d) 68.2 s

Answer 1

The time it takes for a nerve signal to travel the 1.1-meter distance at 18 m/s is 61.1 milliseconds, which is the correct answer and reflects the impact of nerve impulse speed on signal transmission.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine how long it takes for a nerve signal to travel a given distance, you can use the formula:

time = distance / speed

In this case, the nerve cell connecting the spinal cord to your feet is 1.1 meters long and the nerve impulse speed is 18 meters per second (m/s). Plugging these values into the formula, we get:

time = 1.1 m / 18 m/s = 0.0611 seconds

To convert seconds to milliseconds, we multiply by 1000:

0.0611 s x 1000 = 61.1 milliseconds (ms)

Therefore, the correct answer is 61.1 ms (option a). This calculation shows how the speed of action potentials and axon characteristics influence the rapid communication between neurons.