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A simplified model for an erythrocyte is a spherical capacitor with a positively charged liquid interior of surface area A. The interior fluid is separated by a membrane of thickness b from the surrounding, negatively charged, plasma fluid. The potential difference across the membrane is 113 mV, and the thickness of the membrane is about 100 nm with a dielectric constant of K = 5.1. Use 1.06 g/cm3 as the density of blood. (a) Calculate the volume of the blood cell assuming that an average erythrocyte has a mass 1 x 10-12 kg. From the volume determine the surface area of the erythrocyte (in mº). volume m3 surface area m² (b) Calculate the capacitance of the blood cell. For this calculation, model the membrane as a parallel plate capacitor with the area found in part (a). (c) Calculate the charge on the surface of the membrane (in m2). How many elementary charges does this represent? Total Charge Number of Charges eBook