Answer: In addition to chemical and biological systems,

Chapter 13, Problem 13.142

(choose chapter or problem)

In addition to chemical and biological systems, kinetic treatments can sometimes be applied to behavioral and social processes such as the evolution of technology. For example, in 1965, Gordon Moore, a co-founder of Intel, described a trend that the number of transistors on an integrated circuit (N) roughly doubles every 1.5 yr. Now referred to as Moores law, this trend has persisted for the past several decades. A plot of ln N versus year is shown here. (a) Determine the rate constant for the growth in the number of transistors on an integrated circuit. (b) Based on the rate constant, how long does it take for N to double? (c) If Moores law continues until the end of the century, what will be the number of transistors on an integrated circuit in the year 2100? Comment on your result. 1950 0 ln Nt t (yr) 5 10 15 20 25 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010