Bacteria Petri Dish Growth Rate Calculator

This calculator estimates the growth rate of bacteria in a Petri dish based on initial population, time elapsed, and observed population.

Input Parameters

Calculation Results

Growth Rate (k)

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Where:
N₀ = Initial Bacteria Population
N = Observed Bacteria Population
t = Elapsed Time (in hours)
k = Growth Rate (per hour)

Doubling Time (T)

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The time required for the bacteria population to double.

Bacteria Petri Dish Growth Rate Calculator Usage Guide

Learn how to use the calculator and understand the growth rate of bacteria in a Petri dish.

How to Use the Calculator

  1. Enter the Initial Bacteria Population (N₀) - the number of bacteria at the start.
  2. Enter the Elapsed Time (t) in hours since the initial count.
  3. Enter the Observed Bacteria Population (N) - the number of bacteria after the elapsed time.
  4. Click the Calculate button to compute the growth rate and doubling time.

Understanding the Results

The Growth Rate (k) indicates how quickly the bacteria population is increasing, measured in per hour. A higher value means faster growth.

The Doubling Time (T) shows how long it takes for the bacteria population to double in size. This is a useful metric for understanding bacterial growth patterns.

Example

If you start with 100 bacteria (N₀ = 100), and after 6 hours you observe 400 bacteria (N = 400), the calculator will determine that the growth rate is approximately 0.693 per hour, with a doubling time of about 1 hour.