Final answer:
The efficiency of the power stroke in muscle contraction, where the myosin protein pulls on an actin filament, is calculated to be 35.3%.
Step-by-step explanation:
The power stroke is a critical phase of the muscle contraction cycle, where the myosin head pulls on the actin filament. This process uses the energy of one molecule of ATP, which equals 5.1×10⁻²⁰ J, to produce a displacement of 18 nm against a force of 1.0 pN. To calculate the efficiency, we use the formula:
Efficiency = (work output / energy input) × 100%
The work output can be calculated by multiplying the force by displacement. So, the work done (W) is 1.0 pN × 18 nm = 18 pN·nm. Since 1 pN·nm equals 1×10⁻²ⁱ J, the work output is then 18 × 1×10⁻²ⁱ J. The energy input is the energy of one ATP molecule, which is 5.1×10⁻²⁰ J.
Now, we can calculate the efficiency:
Efficiency = ((18 × 1×10⁻²ⁱ J) / (5.1×10⁻²⁰ J)) × 100% = 0.353×10² % = 35.3%
This calculation reveals that the efficiency of the power stroke in muscle contraction is 35.3%.