CampRock
Aug31-09, 01:22 AM
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Richard Feynman propsed writing the entrie Encyclopaedia Brittanica on the head of a pin.
1) Estimate the size of the letters needed if we suppose a pinhead is 1/16 in across.
2) If the atomic spacing is 5x10^(-10)m, how many atoms across is each letter?
2. Relevant equations
3. The attempt at a solution
So I assume that the average Britannica contains 50 million words, but what I need is the average areas of a pinhead compared to Britannica (which I can't figure out how to get values of).
I've also estimated the answer to be 10^(-8) atoms from some articles I have read, but I unfortunately can't come up how to get that solution.
A little help please? It's due tomorrow morning
Richard Feynman propsed writing the entrie Encyclopaedia Brittanica on the head of a pin.
1) Estimate the size of the letters needed if we suppose a pinhead is 1/16 in across.
2) If the atomic spacing is 5x10^(-10)m, how many atoms across is each letter?
2. Relevant equations
3. The attempt at a solution
So I assume that the average Britannica contains 50 million words, but what I need is the average areas of a pinhead compared to Britannica (which I can't figure out how to get values of).
I've also estimated the answer to be 10^(-8) atoms from some articles I have read, but I unfortunately can't come up how to get that solution.
A little help please? It's due tomorrow morning