.If a bacterium is 0.5 μm wide and 15 μm long, how many nanometers wide is it, and how many millimeters long is it
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
To convert the dimensions of the bacterium from micrometers (μm) to nanometers (nm) and millimeters (mm), we need to use the following conversion factors:
- Micrometers (μm) to nanometers (nm):
1 μm = 1,000 nm.
Therefore, to convert the width from micrometers to nanometers, we multiply the width in μm by 1,000. - Micrometers (μm) to millimeters (mm):
1 μm = 0.001 mm.
Therefore, to convert the length from micrometers to millimeters, we multiply the length in μm by 0.001.
Step-by-Step Calculation:
- Width of the bacterium:
- The bacterium is 0.5 μm wide.
- To convert this to nanometers:
0.5 μm × 1,000 = 500 nm.
So, the bacterium is 500 nanometers wide.
- Length of the bacterium:
- The bacterium is 15 μm long.
- To convert this to millimeters:
15 μm × 0.001 = 0.015 mm.
So, the bacterium is 0.015 millimeters long.
Explanation:
Micrometers (μm), nanometers (nm), and millimeters (mm) are units of length used to measure small objects. Nanometers are smaller than micrometers, and micrometers are smaller than millimeters. The conversion between these units is based on powers of 10. Since 1 μm equals 1,000 nm and 1 μm equals 0.001 mm, these conversion factors allow us to express the bacterium’s dimensions in more convenient units for microscopic analysis.
This bacterium is very small, with its width in the range of 500 nanometers and its length just 0.015 millimeters. These conversions are crucial in microbiology, where objects are often measured on the microscopic scale.
