Given Information:
Diameter of spherical cell = 0.040 mm
thickness = L = 9 nm
Resistivity = ρ = 3.6×10⁷ Ω⋅m
Dielectric constant = k = 9.0
Required Information:
time constant = τ = ?
Answer:
time constant = 2.87×10⁻³ seconds
Explanation:
The time constant is given by
τ = RC
Where R is the resistance and C is the capacitance.
We know that resistivity of of any material is given by
ρ = RA/L
R = ρL/A
Where area of spherical cell is given by
A = 4πr²
A = 4π(d/2)²
A = 4π(0.040×10⁻³/2)²
A = 5.026×10⁻⁹ m²
The resistance becomes
R = (3.6×10⁷*9×10⁻⁹)/5.026×10⁻⁹
R = 6.45×10⁷ Ω
The capacitance of the cell membrane is given by
C = kεoA/L
Where k = 9 is the dielectric constant and εo = 8.854×10⁻¹² F/m
C = (9*8.854×10⁻¹²*5.026×10⁻⁹)/9×10⁻⁹
C = 44.5 pF
C = 44.5×10⁻¹² F
Therefore, the time constant is
τ = RC
τ = 6.45×10⁷*44.5×10⁻¹²
τ = 2.87×10⁻³ seconds
