Chapter 1–3: Size and Scale from Viruses to Atoms

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key size concepts described in the video notes, from viruses like influenza to atoms.

Flu virus size

Approximately 100 nanometers in diameter; this size exemplifies when you need an electron microscope to view viruses.

Electron microscope

A microscope capable of visualizing objects on the nanometer scale, such as viruses around 100 nm in size.

Poliovirus

An example of a virus mentioned alongside the flu in the size discussion.

Protein

A molecule smaller than viruses; part of the size spectrum down from viruses.

Lipid molecule

An individual lipid molecule, smaller than a protein and part of the decreasing size sequence.

Atom

The smallest unit mentioned in the size progression from viruses to molecules.

Pollen particle

A familiar reference point used to illustrate just how small viruses are by comparison.

Size spectrum

A progression from virus-sized particles (~100 nm) down to proteins, lipid molecules, and atoms.