Question

Hereditary spherocytosis (HS) is a genetic disorder of the red blood cell membrane which causes the red blood cells to be spherical in shape instead of the normal shape which is a flatter biconcave disc. This cell deformity can lead to anaemia, jaundice and other complications. The diameter of the red blood cells of a paticular HS patient are measured using a technique of laser diffraction to be 7.9 ± 0.3 μm. The volume V of a sphere is given by the formula V = 4/3 π R3 where R is the radius of the sphere. What is the absolute uncertainty in the volume of the cell for this measurement quoted in μm3 to 2 significant figures?

Answer 1