The speed of propagation of the action potential (an electrical signal) in a nerve cell depends (inversely) on the diameter of the axon (nerve fiber). If the nerve cell connecting the spinal cord to your feet is 0.97 m long, and the nerve impulse speed is 20.0 m/s, how long does it take for the nerve signal to travel this distance?
same as any other distance = speed * time problem
time = (.97/20) seconds
of course we did not use the diameter bit but perhaps there is a part B ?
0.0485
To find the time it takes for the nerve signal to travel a distance, we can use the formula:
Time = Distance / Speed
Given that the distance the nerve signal needs to travel is 0.97 m and the speed is 20.0 m/s, we can substitute these values into the formula:
Time = 0.97 m / 20.0 m/s
Dividing 0.97 by 20.0 gives us the time it takes for the signal to travel:
Time = 0.0485 seconds
Therefore, it takes approximately 0.0485 seconds for the nerve signal to travel a distance of 0.97 meters along the nerve cell.