Find the area and length of a gold leaf

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the area of a gold leaf and the length of a cylindrical fiber made from gold. Using the density of gold (19.32 g/cm³) and a mass of 3.872 g, the area of the leaf was determined to be 0.9288 m². For the cylindrical fiber with a radius of 2.300 μm, the initial calculation yielded an incorrect length of 3,002,210,000 m, which was later corrected to 300,221 m after addressing unit conversion errors.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of density and volume calculations
  • Familiarity with geometric formulas for area and volume
  • Knowledge of unit conversions, particularly between micrometers and centimeters
  • Basic algebra for solving equations
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the properties of gold, focusing on its density and ductility
  • Learn about geometric calculations involving area and volume
  • Practice unit conversion techniques, especially for metric measurements
  • Explore common errors in dimensional analysis and how to avoid them
USEFUL FOR

Students in physics or chemistry, educators teaching material properties, and anyone involved in materials science or engineering applications related to gold and its uses.

MachineInTheStone
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Homework Statement



Gold, which has a density of 19.32 g/cm3, is the most ductile metal and can be pressed into a thin leaf or drawn out into a long fiber. (a) If a sample of gold with a mass of 3.872 g, is pressed into a leaf of 5.372 μm thickness, what is the area of the leaf? (b) If, instead, the gold is drawn out into a cylindrical fiber of radius 2.300 μm, what is the length of the fiber?

Homework Equations


d = m/v
v = pi * r^2 * L
v = l*w*h

The Attempt at a Solution


d = m/v[/B]
[Part A]
1) 19.32 g / 1 cm^3 = 3.872g / v
v = 4.98967 cm^3

2) 5.372 micrometer * 1 cm / 10,000 micrometer
= 0.0005372 cm

3) 4.98967 cm^3 / 0.0005372 cm
= 9288 cm^2

4) 9288 cm^2 * 1 m^2 / 10,000 cm^2
= 0.9288 m^2

[part B]
1) 2.300 μm * 1 cm / 10,000 μm
= 0.00023 cm

2) v = pi * r^2 * L
Since v = 4.98967 cm^3 ...
4.98967 cm^3 = pi * (0.00023 cm)^2 * L
4.98967 cm^3 = 0.0000001662 cm^2 * L
L = 30022100 cm

3) 30022100 cm * 1 m / 0.01 cm
= 3,002,210,000 m

Are part A and B correct?
B seems totally wrong!
 
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MachineInTheStone said:
L = 30022100 cm

3) 30022100 cm * 1 m / 0.01 cm
= 3,002,210,000 m
How come the number is bigger in m than in cm!?
 
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ah.
L = 30022100 cm

3) 30,022,100 cm * 1 m / 100 cm
= 300,221 m

Is part A and B correct now?
 
MachineInTheStone said:
1) 19.32 g / 1 cm^3 = 3.872g / v
v = 4.98967 cm^3
No. 1/v = 4.98967 cm-3
 
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