What happens if the amount of solute in one compartment is changed
relative to the other? Fluctuating volumes and effective Molar
concentrations for each compartment are depicted numerically across
the top of the simulation. Use the mouse and the pull-down bar
at the right to change the solute number in the right-hand compartment
from 10 to 5 particles and describe what happens. (This experiment
may take as much as 30 minutes to reach equilibrium!) Does the
membrane ever return to its original location? How about a change
from 10 to 20? And then from 20 to 5? Repeat these experiments
several times to obtain a statistical sample (or better still,
pool your data with those of your classmates and analyze the average
values).
Is there a pattern to the results you obtained from these
changes? If there is, how would you express the pattern? Go on
to the
next page to check your answer and to further
explore this phenomenon.