Bacteria and other prokaryotes are found deep underground, in water, and in the
ID: 1631565 • Letter: B
Question
Bacteria and other prokaryotes are found deep underground, in water, and in the air. One micron (10-6 m) is a typical length scale associated with these microbes.
(a) Estimate the total number of bacteria and other prokaryotes in the biosphere of the Earth. (Assume the bacteria are found to a depth d = 1000 m below Earth's surface, and that there are an average of 100 bacteria in every 1 mm3 of volume.)
(b) Estimate the total mass of all such microbes. (Assuming a bacterium is basically composed of water.)
Explanation / Answer
A) total number of bacteria = 100*volume in mm^3
= 100*4/3*pi*(6.380e9^3-6.379e9^3)
= 5.11*10^28
B) Volume of microbes = 5.11e28*4/3*pi*0.5e-6^3
= 2.676e10 m^3
Mass = 2.676*10^13 kg
Related Questions
Navigate
Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.