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?
2007-05-24 00:54:58 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The average weight of a bacteria is 9.5E-13 g and the Earth's mass is 6 x 10^24 kg. Thats going to take alot of bacteria.
2007-05-24 01:58:52 · answer #1 · answered by clint_slicker 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The math may be correct but the answer may be slightly more complicated depending on the particular bacteria. For example fermentation (by bacteria) produces alcohol which can kill bacteria. An alcoholic beverage contains the 'waste products' of billions of bacteria. Also bacteria need water (as well as food) and would not replicate unless they can make (metabolic) water from the particular food. Also the replication could not take place on earth (with a hospitable environment) because the bacteria would have to eat the earth (including toxic materials) about 4,000 times. Also, would solar energy kill the bulging horde? Very interesting question though.
2007-05-24 08:22:06 · answer #2 · answered by Kes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds about right. After two days there would be 2 raised to the 144 power. That's a huge number.
2007-05-24 08:00:40 · answer #3 · answered by Gene 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree with Gene, but how much mass do individual bacteria have?
2^144 = 2.23 x 10^43 (Number of Bacteria)
just depends how much mass they have.
2007-05-24 08:03:46 · answer #4 · answered by Doctor Q 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not sure about those figures, but my sister-in-law at the 'fridge is a close approximation.
2007-05-24 08:48:46 · answer #5 · answered by medicine wheel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be but it is a pretty meaningless calculation.
2007-05-24 08:39:07 · answer #6 · answered by mr.perfesser 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is possible. one of the reason it probably hasnt happened yet is because of our immune system, vaccination, and disinfectants
2007-05-24 08:09:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋