Question

A kinesin that is transporting a secretory vesicle uses approximately 80 ATP molecules/s. Each ATP provides a kinesin molecule with an energy of about 0.8 × 10-19 J. If the velocity of the kinesin is 800 nm/s, can you determine the force the kinesin is exerting, if you assume that all the ATP energy is used (100% efficiency)? If you can, find it and give your answer in newtons. If not, answer with 0.

Answer 1

Answer:

The force is  $F = 8*10^{-12} \ N$

Explanation:

From the question we are told that

     The rate at which ATP molecules are used is $R = 80 ATP/ s$

       The energy provided by a single ATP is  $E_{ATP} = 0.8 * 10^{-19} J$

       The velocity of the kinesin is  $v = 800 nm/s = 800*10^{-9} m/s$

The power provided by the ATP in one second is  mathematically represented as

       $P = E_{ATP} * R$

substituting values

       $P = 80 * 0.8*10^{-19 }$

       $P = 6.4 *10^{-18}J/s$

Now  this power is mathematically represented as

       $P = F * v$

Where  F  is  the force the kinesin is exerting

  Thus  

          $F = \frac{P}{v}$

substituting values

            $F = \frac{6.4*0^{-18}}{800 *10^{-9}}$

           $F = 8*10^{-12} \ N$