Find the area and length of a gold leaf

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves calculating the area of a gold leaf and the length of a cylindrical fiber made from gold, given its mass and density. The subject area includes concepts from density, volume calculations, and geometric interpretations related to solids.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the calculations for both the area of the leaf and the length of the fiber, with some questioning the correctness of the results, particularly the conversion between units. There is a focus on the implications of the calculations and the relationships between mass, volume, and density.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants actively questioning the accuracy of the calculations and conversions. There is no explicit consensus on the correctness of the results, and some participants are exploring different interpretations of the calculations.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of the problem statement, which includes specific values for mass, density, and dimensions. There is an emphasis on ensuring unit conversions are handled correctly, as discrepancies have been noted in the results.

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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