Homework Help: Physics

Posted by John on Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 1:29am.

During an action potential, Na^+ ions move into the cell at a rate of about 3x10^-7 mol/m^2*s.

How much power must be produced by the "active Na^+ pumping" system to produce this flow against a +30-mV potential difference? Assume that the axon is 40cm long and 30um in diameter.

Please help me out I am lost. Thanks
Physics please help - drwls, Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 12:52pm
I am not familiar with the terminology. How can a "potential" be an event or a time interval?

Power = (current) x (voltage)

The voltage is apparently 30*10^-3 V

Convert the 3x10^-7 mol/(m^2*s) to
coulombs/(m^2*s)
1 mole of Na+ ions contains 6.02*10^23 ions with a charge of 9.63*10^4 Coulombs. Your ion flux is 2.89*10^-2 Amps/m^2

Multiply that by the appropriate axon area.

Please help am still stuck on this one I cant get the right answer!

No one has answered this question yet.

Answer this Question

Related Questions

Physics please help - During an action potential, Na^+ ions move into the cell ...
bi - In an action potential, what ions are entering or leaving the cell during ...
biology - Hi, I appreciate your expert help,and I have a question for you. If I...
Check + biology - The following statement describes, in random order, events ...
ap bio - 15. The threshold potential is of great significance in the physiology...
check! - The following statement describes, in random order, events during the ...
Bio _ - The following statement describes, in random order, events during the ...
check+ please! - The following statement describes, in random order, events ...
Bio + check!! - The following statement describes, in random order, events ...
Bio+ chcekc! - The following statement describes, in random order, events during...

For Further Reading

First Name:
School Subject:
Answer: