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QuestionMathematics

Paper thickness varies. Typically, 100 sheets are about 1 cm thick. Atoms typically vary from 1 to 3 angstroms in radius. (An angstrom is 10 −10 m.) Suppose a piece of paper is 0.0072 cm thick. How many atoms span the thickness if the radius of the atom is 1.23 angstroms?
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Answer

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Step 1:
Let's solve this problem step by step:

Step 2:
: Convert the paper thickness to meters

0.0072 \mathrm{~cm} = 7.2 \times 10^{-4} \mathrm{~m}

Step 3:
: Convert the atom radius from angstroms to meters

• 1 angstrom = $$10^{-10} \mathrm{~m}
• Atom radius = 1.23 \times 10^{- 10} \mathrm{~m}

Step 4:
: Calculate the number of atoms that span the paper thickness

• Number of atoms = $$\frac{7.2 \times 10^{-4} \mathrm{~m}}{2 \times (1.23 \times 10^{-10} \mathrm{~m})}
• To span the thickness, we'll divide the paper thickness by the atom diameter

Step 5:
: Calculate the final result

\frac{7.2 \times 10^{-4}}{2 \times 1.23 \times 10^{-10}} = 2.93 \times 10^{6} \text{ atoms}

Final Answer

Approximately 2,930,000 atoms span the thickness of the paper.