Answer: The DefibrillatorA defibrillator is designed to | StudySoup

Textbook Solutions for College Physics

Chapter 23 Problem 82PP

Question

Problem 82PP

The Defibrillator

A defibrillator is designed to pass a large current through a patient’s torso in order to stop dangerous heart rhythms. Its key part is a capacitor that is charged to a high voltage. The patient’s torso plays the role of a resistor in an RC circuit. When a switch is closed, the capacitor discharges through the patient’s torso. A jolt from a defibrillator is intended to be intense and rapid; the maximum current is very large, so the capacitor discharges quickly. This rapid pulse depolarizes the heart, stopping all electrical activity. This allows the heart’s internal nerve circuitry to reestablish a healthy rhythm.

A typical defibrillator has a 32 μF capacitor charged to 5000 V. The electrodes connected to the patient are coated with a conducting gel that reduces the resistance of the skin to where the effective resistance of the patient’s torso is 100 Ω.

If a patient receives a series of jolts, the resistance of the torso may increase. How does such a change affect the initial current and the time constant of subsequent jolts?

A. The initial current and the time constant both increase.

B. The initial current decreases, the time constant increases.

C. The initial current increases, the time constant decreases.

D. The initial current and the time constant both decrease.

Solution

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The first step in solving 23 problem number trying to solve the problem we have to refer to the textbook question: Problem 82PPThe DefibrillatorA defibrillator is designed to pass a large current through a patient’s torso in order to stop dangerous heart rhythms. Its key part is a capacitor that is charged to a high voltage. The patient’s torso plays the role of a resistor in an RC circuit. When a switch is closed, the capacitor discharges through the patient’s torso. A jolt from a defibrillator is intended to be intense and rapid; the maximum current is very large, so the capacitor discharges quickly. This rapid pulse depolarizes the heart, stopping all electrical activity. This allows the heart’s internal nerve circuitry to reestablish a healthy rhythm.A typical defibrillator has a 32 μF capacitor charged to 5000 V. The electrodes connected to the patient are coated with a conducting gel that reduces the resistance of the skin to where the effective resistance of the patient’s torso is 100 Ω.If a patient receives a series of jolts, the resistance of the torso may increase. How does such a change affect the initial current and the time constant of subsequent jolts?A. The initial current and the time constant both increase.B. The initial current decreases, the time constant increases.C. The initial current increases, the time constant decreases.D. The initial current and the time constant both decrease.
From the textbook chapter Circuits you will find a few key concepts needed to solve this.

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Title College Physics 12 
Author Randall D. Knight
ISBN 9780321595492

Answer: The DefibrillatorA defibrillator is designed to

Chapter 23 textbook questions

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