Dust particle
Dust is a mixture of tiny solid particles from sources such as soil, fibres, skin and pollen.
10 µmCharacteristic sizeSmall wonders
Dust particle vs Pollen grain
What are they, and what does the difference actually look like?
Two things. One honest scale.
Meet the pair
What these two things are
Pollen grain
A pollen grain carries the male reproductive cells of a seed-producing plant.
30 µmCharacteristic sizePollen grain has about 3 times the characteristic size of Dust particle.
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Dust particle10 µmCharacteristic size
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Pollen grain30 µmCharacteristic size
Both marked spans share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its proportions; poses and surface detail are illustrative.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Dust particle
A chosen 10 µm particle. Dust is a mixture, not a single size or material.
University of Utah — Cell size and scale
The marked characteristic size is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Pollen grain
A chosen 30 µm pollen grain. Plant species produce very different grains.
University of Utah — Cell size and scale
The marked characteristic size is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Change the comparison
Put something else beside it.
Measurement details
Why these numbers?
The visual compares characteristic size with characteristic size. The records below preserve each value’s basis and caveats.
Dust particle
10 µmCharacteristic size · representative
A chosen 10 µm particle. Dust is a mixture, not a single size or material.
Pollen grain
30 µmCharacteristic size · representative
A chosen 30 µm pollen grain. Plant species produce very different grains.
- Comparing
- Characteristic size ↔ Characteristic size
- Relative size
- Pollen grain is larger on this measurement by a factor of about 3. Pollen grain's selected measurement is approximately 200% greater than Dust particle's.
How to read the visual
The labelled spans and stored measurements determine the scale; unmeasured illustration details do not.
- Dust particle is labelled representative; treat the displayed value as a comparison anchor rather than false precision.
- Pollen grain is labelled representative; treat the displayed value as a comparison anchor rather than false precision.
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
MicroscopicDust particle10 µmDust is a mixture of tiny solid particles from sources such as soil, fibres, skin and pollen.MicroscopicPollen grain30 µmA pollen grain carries the male reproductive cells of a seed-producing plant.
Living thingsHoneybee1.5 cmA honeybee is a social insect that lives in a colony and gathers nectar and pollen from flowers.
Living thingsSmall ant5 mmAn ant is a social insect that lives in an organised colony, usually with workers, a queen and specialised roles.
Everyday thingsUS quarter2.426 cmA US quarter is a coin worth twenty-five cents, commonly used in United States currency.Side by side
Another point of view.
