Question

When a nerve cell fires, charge is transferred across the cell membrane to change the cell's potential from negative to positive. For a typical nerve cell, 9.2pC of charge flows in a time of 0.52ms .What is the average current through the cell membrane?

Answer 1

The average current will be "17.69 nA".

Step-by-step explanation:

The given values are:

Charge,

q = 9.2 pC

Time,

t = 0.52ms

The equivalent circuit of the cell surface is provided by:

⇒
`i_(avg)=(charge)/(t)`

Or,

⇒
`i_(avg)=(q)/(t)`

On substituting the given values, we get

⇒
`=(9.2* 10^(-12))/(0.52* 10^(-3))`

⇒
`=17.69^(-9)`

⇒
`=17.69 \ nA`