Question

When a nerve cell fires, charge is transferred across the cell membrane to change the cell's potential from negative to positive. For a typical nerve cell, 9.2pC of charge flows in a time of 0.52ms .What is the average current through the cell membrane?

Answer 1

Answer:

The average current will be "17.69 nA".

Explanation:

The given values are:

Charge,

q = 9.2 pC

Time,

t = 0.52ms

The equivalent circuit of the cell surface is provided by:

⇒  $i_{avg}=\frac{charge}{t}$

Or,

⇒  $i_{avg}=\frac{q}{t}$

On substituting the given values, we get

⇒         $=\frac{9.2\times 10^{-12}}{0.52\times 10^{-3}}$

⇒         $=17.69^{-9}$

⇒         $=17.69 \ nA$