The capacitance of biological membranes is about1.0 ? F per cm2 of membrane area

Question

The capacitance of biological membranes is about1.0 ?F per cm2 of membrane area, so investigators can determine the surface area of a cell membrane by using intracellular electrodes to measure the membrane's capacitive reactance. An investigator applies a 1.0 ?A peak current at40 kHz to a cell and measures the peak out-of-phase voltage?that is, the component of the voltage due to the capacitive reactance of the cell membrane?to be 0.16 V .

Part A: If the capacitance of a cell membrane is measured to be 6.0

Explanation / Answer

A) b) 6*10^-9 m^2

given, capacitance per area, C/A = 1*10^-6 F/cm^2

= 1*10^-6 F /(10^-4 m^2)

= 10^-2 F/m^2

now Area of the capacitor, A = 6*10^-11 F /(10^-2 F/m^2)

= 6*10^-9 m^2

B) If C = 6 micro F

now Area of the capacitor, A = 6*10^-6 F /(10^-2 F/m^2)

= 6*10^-4 m^2

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