Alveoli are tiny sacs of air in the lungs. Their average diameter is 4.50 × 10−5 m. Calculate the uncertainty in the velocity of an oxygen molecule (5.30 × 10−26 kg) trapped within a sac. Enter your answer in scientific notation.

Answer :

Answer: The uncertainty in the velocity of oxygen molecule is [tex]4.424\times 10^{-5}m/s[/tex]

Explanation:

The diameter of the molecule will be equal to the uncertainty in position.

The equation representing Heisenberg's uncertainty principle follows:

[tex]\Delta x.\Delta p=\frac{h}{2\pi}[/tex]

where,

[tex]\Delta x[/tex] = uncertainty in position = d = [tex]4.50\times 10^{-5}m[/tex]

[tex]\Delta p[/tex] = uncertainty in momentum  = [tex]m\Delta v[/tex]

m = mass of oxygen molecule = [tex]5.30\times 10^{-26}kg[/tex]

h = Planck's constant = [tex]6.627\times 10^{-34}kgm^2/s^2[/tex]

Putting values in above equation, we get:

[tex]4.50\times 10^{-5}m\times 5.30\times 10^{-26}kg\times \Delta v=\frac{6.627\times 10^{-34}kgm^2/s}{2\times 3.14}\\\\\Delta v=\frac{6.627\times 10^{-34}kgm^2/s^2}{2\times 3.14\times 4.50\times 10^{-5}m\times 5.30\times 10^{-26}kg}=4.424\times 10^{-5}m/s[/tex]

Hence, the uncertainty in the velocity of oxygen molecule is [tex]4.424\times 10^{-5}m/s[/tex]

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