Do you beleive this?

Question

Bacteria grow very quickly.
They reproduce about every 20 minutes.

It has been estimated that if unlimited space and food were avaliable for a single bacterium, after 2 days of reproduction there would be a mass about 4000 times that of the Earth.

yeah right!! anyone with me?

Answer 1

it is possible. after all u said if UNLIMITED SPACE AND FOOD was available. it isnt. and their are disinfectants and other things around to kill them

Answer 2

That's not correct, but you'd be amazed at how massive the ball of bacteria were. Assuming no deaths, optimum conditions and unlimited space/sustenance for every single bacteria, then one bacterium would become 2 after 20 minutes, these would become 4 after another 20 minutes, 16 after another 20 etc.

Since there are 24 hours in a day and 3 lots of 20 minutes in an hour, there are 144 self replications in this period.

So the total number of bacteria would be

2^143 = 1.12*10^43

[thats 112 followed by 41 zeroes]

As for the mass of a bacterium:

http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2003/LouisSiu.shtml

Lets take an estimate and say our bacteria are roughly 10^-13 grams each, so our mass of bacteria is now:

1.12*10^30 grams, which in kilograms is 1.12*10^27 Kg

Considering the mass of the earth:

http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2002/SamanthaDong2.shtml

Lets call it 6*10^24 Kg

So our ball of bacteria is [1.12*10^27]/[6*10^24] = 186.7 times the mass of the earth. Depending on your choice for the mass of a bacteria, you might be be able to get a result of 4000 times but this seems a little too high.

Pretty amazing isn't it. Since these conditions never occur, we aren't over run by bacteria.

Answer 3

Don't underestimate the power of mathematical compounding. Just try figuring how much money you would have in one month if you saved one penny on the first, 2 pennies on the second, 4 pennies on the third, etc., doubling the amount each day, which would be incredibly slower than doubling every 20 minutes.

Answer 4

I'm always disappointed by people who discount facts because they "sound wrong", next time do the math yourself, and we will be "with" you.