In the human nervous system, signals are transmitted along neurons as action potentials that travel at speeds of up to 66.0 m/s. (An action potential is a traveling influx of sodium ions through the membrane of a neuron.) The signal is passed from one neuron to another by the release of neurotransmitters in the synapse. Suppose that someone steps on your toe. The pain signal travels along a 1.00-m-long sensory neuron to the spinal column, across a synapse to a second 1.00-m-long neuron, and across a second synapse to the brain. Suppose that the synapses are each 102 nm wide, that it takes 0.0400 ms for the signal to cross each synapse, and that the action potentials travel at 66.0 m/s. A. At what average speed does the signal cross a synapse? B. How long does it take for the signal to reach the brain? C. What is the average speed of propagation of the signal?
In the human nervous system, signals are transmitted along neurons as action potentials that travel at speeds of up to 66.0 m/s. (An action potential is a traveling influx of sodium ions through the membrane of a neuron.) The signal is passed from one neuron to another by the release of neurotransmitters in the synapse. Suppose that someone steps on your toe. The pain signal travels along a 1.00-m-long sensory neuron to the spinal column, across a synapse to a second 1.00-m-long neuron, and across a second synapse to the brain. Suppose that the synapses are each 102 nm wide, that it takes 0.0400 ms for the signal to cross each synapse, and that the action potentials travel at 66.0 m/s. A. At what average speed does the signal cross a synapse? B. How long does it take for the signal to reach the brain? C. What is the average speed of propagation of the signal?
In the human nervous system, signals are transmitted along neurons as action potentials that travel at speeds of up to 66.0 m/s. (An action potential is a traveling influx of sodium ions through the membrane of a neuron.) The signal is passed from one neuron to another by the release of neurotransmitters in the synapse. Suppose that someone steps on your toe. The pain signal travels along a 1.00-m-long sensory neuron to the spinal column, across a synapse to a second 1.00-m-long neuron, and across a second synapse to the brain. Suppose that the synapses are each 102 nm wide, that it takes 0.0400 ms for the signal to cross each synapse, and that the action potentials travel at 66.0 m/s.
A. At what average speed does the signal cross a synapse?
B. How long does it take for the signal to reach the brain?
C. What is the average speed of propagation of the signal?
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