Typical diameter25 millionths m
354 billionthsBoeing 747 lengths
27.4 millionthsTennis nets
25 micrometers (ragweed)
Photo from Wikimedia Commons
Grain of Pollen
The microscopic plant sperm that ruins your spring/Scientific Objects
A typical pollen grain ranges from 10 to 100 micrometers in diameter. Ragweed pollen, the major hay fever culprit, is about 20 micrometers across. Each grain carries the male genetic material of a plant and is engineered by evolution with spines, air sacs, or sticky coatings to reach its target.
Measurements
Mass of single grain10 trillionths kg
2.2 trillionthsHouse cats
2 tenthsYeast cells
20.8 quadrillionthsConcert grand pianos
About 10 nanograms
Range (small pollen)10 millionths m
833 billionthsT-Rex body lengths
1Dust particle
421 billionthsTennis court lengths
10 micrometers
Range (large pollen)100 millionths m
25 millionthsHigh jump bar lengths
1.5 thousandthsTennis ball diameters
400 millionthsCandle heights
100 micrometers
Settling speed in still air3 hundredths m/s
361 millionthsBullet trains
2.31Garden snails
About 3 cm/s