The speed with which nerve impulsestravel is determined in large part by the characteristic time constant t = RC of the circuit formed by the resistivity of the axonand the capacitance of its wall. The resistance of a 1.00-mm-longsegment of an axon is 25.5 MΩ. (a) For nerve axons with no protective myelin sheath, the wall capacitance is about 3.14 * 10-10 Ffor each segment of length L = 1.00 mm. Find the speed ofthe nerve impulses given by v = L>t. (b) Many axons are surrounded by a myelin sheath that decreases the wall capacitanceto 1.57 * 10−12 F. What is the speed of nerve impulses along suchmyelinated axons?

Delmar's Standard Textbook Of Electricity
7th Edition
ISBN:9781337900348
Author:Stephen L. Herman
Publisher:Stephen L. Herman
Chapter19: Capacitors
Section: Chapter Questions
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The speed with which nerve impulses
travel is determined in large part by the characteristic time constant t = RC of the circuit formed by the resistivity of the axon
and the capacitance of its wall. The resistance of a 1.00-mm-long
segment of an axon is 25.5 MΩ. (a) For nerve axons with no protective myelin sheath, the wall capacitance is about 3.14 * 10-10 F
for each segment of length L = 1.00 mm. Find the speed of
the nerve impulses given by v = L>t. (b) Many axons are surrounded by a myelin sheath that decreases the wall capacitance
to 1.57 * 10−12 F. What is the speed of nerve impulses along such
myelinated axons?

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