In an experiment the strength of a neural stimulus and the resulting muscle contraction are compared. A single motor neuron that synapses with a muscle fiber is suspended. The other end of the muscle fiber is attached to a mass. If electrical stimulus is sufficient to cause an impulse in the neuron, the muscle will contract and lift the mass.
What mass could be lifted by 3mv of stimuli? What mass could be lifted by 48mV of stimuli?
Strength of stimulus is 5 mV and mass is 0g
Strength of stimulus is 10 mV and mass is 22
For this experiment, we can assume a linear relationship between the strength of the electrical stimulus and the mass that can be lifted by the muscle fiber. Therefore, we can set up a proportion to calculate the mass that could be lifted by 3mV and 48mV of stimuli.
Let x represent the mass that could be lifted by 3mV of stimulus, and let y represent the mass that could be lifted by 48mV of stimulus.
We have the following information:
5mV of stimulus can lift 0g
10mV of stimulus can lift 22g
Using the given information, we can set up a proportion to calculate x and y:
(5mV/10mV) = (0g/x)
x = (10mV * 0g) / 5mV
x = 0g
(10mV/48mV) = (22g/y)
y = (48mV * 22g) / 10mV
y = 105.6g
Therefore, the mass that could be lifted by 3mV of stimuli would be 0g, and the mass that could be lifted by 48mV of stimuli would be 105.6g.