A mammalian HELA cell has a diameter of 2 * 10-5 m. Report the diameter of the cell using the most appropriate prefix on the base unit of meter. (LO 1.5) (c) 200 nm

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the given diameter of the HELA cell, which is \(2 \times 10^{-5}\) meters.
2. Recognize that the problem asks for the diameter to be expressed using an appropriate metric prefix.
3. Recall that 1 nanometer (nm) is equal to \(10^{-9}\) meters.
4. Convert the given diameter from meters to nanometers by dividing \(2 \times 10^{-5}\) meters by \(10^{-9}\) meters/nanometer.
5. Express the result in nanometers, ensuring the use of the correct metric prefix.

Key Concepts

Metric Prefixes

Metric prefixes are used to denote specific powers of ten, making it easier to express large or small quantities. For example, 'nano-' represents 10^-9, which is useful for measuring very small dimensions like the diameter of cells. Understanding these prefixes allows for clear communication of measurements in scientific contexts.

Cell Size Measurement

Cells, particularly mammalian cells like HELA cells, are typically measured in micrometers (µm) or nanometers (nm) due to their small size. A HELA cell's diameter of 2 * 10^-5 m can be converted to nanometers, as 1 meter equals 1 billion nanometers, facilitating comparisons and understanding in biological studies.

Unit Conversion

Unit conversion is the process of converting a quantity expressed in one unit to another unit. In this case, converting meters to nanometers involves multiplying by the appropriate factor (1 m = 10^9 nm). Mastery of unit conversion is essential in chemistry and biology for accurate data representation and analysis.