A student is examining a bacterium under the microscope. The E. coli bacterial c

Question

A student is examining a bacterium under the microscope. The E. coli bacterial cell has a mass of = 1.40fg (where a femtogram, 10^-15, is ) and is swimming at a velocity of = 1.00um/s , with an uncertainty in the velocity of 8.00% . E. coli bacterial cells are around 1um (10^-6m ) in length. The student is supposed to observe the bacterium and make a drawing. However, the student, having just learned about the Heisenberg uncertainty principle in physics class, complains that she cannot make the drawing. She claims that the uncertainty of the bacterium's position is greater than the microscope's viewing field, and the bacterium is thus impossible to locate. What is the uncertainty of the position of the bacterium?

Explanation / Answer

(Delta x*Delta p >=h/4pi)

mass=1.50*10^-18kg

velocity=5*10^-6 ms-1

uncertainity in velocity =9%

ecoli ells length=10^-6 m

delta(x)=10^-35/(1.5*10^-18*0.09*5*10^-6) =1.48*10^-11 m (Delta x=6.6*10^{-34}J.s/4*3.14*(1.5*10^-18*0.09*5*10^-6) ) =7.78*10^-11m

uncertainity in its position =7.78*10^-11*100/(10^-6) =0.00778%

so i can say that the student is wrong.

he may draw the figure if he has intentions to do it.

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