To get a feeling for the size of cells consider the followin

To get a feeling for the size of cells, consider the following: the human brain weights about 1kg and contains about 10^12 cell. Calculate the average size of a brain cell (although we know that their sizes vary widely), assuming that each cell is entirely filled with water (remember that 1cm^3 of water weights 1g). What would the length of one side of this average-sized brain cell if it were a simple cube?

Solution

The average weight of brain cell is = 1000 grams/ 10^12 cells = 10^-9 grams

1 g of water (= 1ml) occupies 1cm^3 or 10^-6m^3 volume.

Thus volume of each cell is = 10^-6* 10^09 = 10^-15 m³

The length of one side of this average-sized brain cell is = cubic root of 10^-5m