How many atoms thick is a sheet of paper?

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In summary, an atom is a few angstroms across, a sheet paper is maybe a few tenths of a millimeter thick, and there are 2.3 million Google hits for the question.
  • #1
noobphysicist
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Well, what do you think? And why do you think what you think?
 
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  • #2
noobphysicist said:
Well, what do you think? And why do you think what you think?

Approximately the same number as there are hits to the Google query "How many atoms in a sheet of paper thickness".

Yes, really. An atom is a few angstroms across, a sheet paper is maybe a few tenths of a millimeter thick, that works out to something on the order of 106... and there are 2.3 million Google hits.
 
  • #3
This is not a very good question. Commercial paper is made of cellulose (polymerized simple sugars) -- which is in the form of fibers. Usually from pine. These fibers have lots of space between them - from the point of view of an atom.

Note: different atoms have different diameters: ex: Carbon 1.54 x 10^-10 m
And paper comes in different weights (thicknesses). In the US there is 20lb paper, 24lb paper etc.

Care to refine your question? We have too many variables here to give a decent answer.

Also please note: Science deals with provable facts, not what 'you think'. The 'what I think' mentality about Science is the reason the internet is full of non-science, or politically motivated disinformation. We try to limit that here.
 
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  • #4
jim mcnamara said:
Care to refine your question? We have too many variables here to give a decent answer.

My first thoughts too: 'paper' is just too vague. Perhaps with more specifics, the maths would be as simple as @Nugatory shows.

That said, in a watered-down point of view, I fail to see why the answer should be any more than an order or two of magnitude different from @Nugatory's estimate of one million.
 
  • #5
The question is "how many atoms thick is a sheet of paper".
Not how many atoms are actually aligned across the thickness of the paper.
So it seems that Nugatory's estimate makes perfect sense for the question asked.

Same as "how many fingers thick is a that brick". There are no fingers in the brick, for sure. And there are different types of fingers. But we can make an estimate.:wink:

Science is also about good estimates and order of magnitude calculations.
 
  • #6
How long is a piece of string?
 
  • #7
About two halves of the same piece of string.:smile:
 
  • #8
sophiecentaur said:
How long is a piece of string?

always 2 inches shorter than what you need for your task :wink:


Dave
 

1. How can you measure the thickness of a sheet of paper in terms of atoms?

To measure the thickness of a sheet of paper in terms of atoms, you would need to use a device called an atomic force microscope. This instrument uses a tiny needle to scan the surface of the paper and measures the distance between the atoms. This distance can then be used to calculate the thickness of the paper in terms of atoms.

2. Is it possible for a sheet of paper to be only one atom thick?

No, it is not possible for a sheet of paper to be only one atom thick. Paper is made up of cellulose fibers, which are typically several micrometers in length. This means that even the thinnest paper would be made up of multiple layers of atoms, as each fiber is made up of many atoms.

3. How many atoms thick is a standard sheet of paper?

A standard sheet of paper is approximately 100,000 atoms thick. This number can vary slightly depending on the type and quality of the paper, but it is a good estimate for most types of paper.

4. Can a sheet of paper have a different thickness in different areas?

Yes, a sheet of paper can have a slightly different thickness in different areas. This can be due to variations in the manufacturing process or differences in the density of the paper fibers. However, the overall thickness of the paper should be relatively consistent.

5. How does the thickness of a sheet of paper compare to other objects in terms of atoms?

The thickness of a sheet of paper is relatively thin compared to other objects in terms of atoms. For example, a human hair is typically around 100,000 atoms thick, while a sheet of paper is only around 100,000 atoms thick. This shows just how small atoms are and how many can fit within the thickness of a sheet of paper.

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