Assume the speed of a nerve impulse is 100 m/s. How does this compare to the speed of electricity in a copper wire (approximately 3.00*10^8 m/s)? What does this tell you about the flow of electrons in a wire compared to the movement of ions in a membrane?
To compare the speed of a nerve impulse to the speed of electricity in a copper wire, we can observe that the speed of a nerve impulse is significantly slower than the speed of electricity in a copper wire.
The speed of a nerve impulse is given as 100 m/s, while the speed of electricity in a copper wire is approximately 3.00 * 10^8 m/s. This means that the speed of electricity in a copper wire is about 3 million times faster than the speed of a nerve impulse.
This difference in speed tells us that the flow of electrons in a wire is much faster compared to the movement of ions in a nerve cell membrane. In a wire, electricity is carried by free-moving electrons, while in a nerve cell, electrical signals are transmitted through the movement of charged ions.
In a nerve cell, the propagation of an electrical signal involves a complex process of ion channels opening and closing, which allows ions to move across the cell membrane. This movement of ions is relatively slower compared to the movement of electrons in a wire, which can freely flow through the conductive material.
Therefore, the comparison of the speed of nerve impulses and electricity in a wire shows that the flow of electrons in a wire is much faster than the movement of ions in a nerve cell membrane.