Answer: Electric FishThe voltage produced by a single | StudySoup

Textbook Solutions for College Physics

Chapter 23 Problem 86PP

Question

Problem 86PP

Electric Fish

The voltage produced by a single nerve or muscle cell is quite small, but there are many species of fish that use multiple action potentials in series to produce significant voltages. The electric organs in these fish are composed of specialized disk-shaped cells called electrocytes. The cell at rest has the usual potential difference between the inside and the outside, but the net potential difference across the cell is zero. An electrocyte is connected to nerve fibers that initially trigger a depolarization in one side of the cell but not the other. For the very short time of this depolarization, there is a net potential difference across the cell, as shown in Figure P23.86. Stacks of these cells connected in series can produce a large total voltage. Each stack can produce a small current; for more total current, more stacks are needed, connected in parallel.

Electric eels live in fresh water. The torpedo ray is an electric fish that lives in salt water. The electrocytes in the ray are grouped differently than in the eel; each stack of electrocytes has fewer cells, but there are more stacks in parallel. Which of the following best explains the ray’s electrocyte arrangement?

A. The lower resistivity of salt water requires more current but lower voltage.

B. The lower resistivity of salt water requires more voltage but lower current.

C. The higher resistivity of salt water requires more current but lower voltage.

D. The higher resistivity of salt water requires more voltage but lower current.

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 86PPElectric FishThe voltage produced by a single nerve or muscle cell is quite small, but there are many species of fish that use multiple action potentials in series to produce significant voltages. The electric organs in these fish are composed of specialized disk-shaped cells called electrocytes. The cell at rest has the usual potential difference between the inside and the outside, but the net potential difference across the cell is zero. An electrocyte is connected to nerve fibers that initially trigger a depolarization in one side of the cell but not the other. For the very short time of this depolarization, there is a net potential difference across the cell, as shown in Figure P23.86. Stacks of these cells connected in series can produce a large total voltage. Each stack can produce a small current; for more total current, more stacks are needed, connected in parallel.Electric eels live in fresh water. The torpedo ray is an electric fish that lives in salt water. The electrocytes in the ray are grouped differently than in the eel; each stack of electrocytes has fewer cells, but there are more stacks in parallel. Which of the following best explains the ray’s electrocyte arrangement?A. The lower resistivity of salt water requires more current but lower voltage.B. The lower resistivity of salt water requires more voltage but lower current.C. The higher resistivity of salt water requires more current but lower voltage.D. The higher resistivity of salt water requires more voltage but lower current.
From the textbook chapter Circuits you will find a few key concepts needed to solve this.

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full solution

Title College Physics 12 
Author Randall D. Knight
ISBN 9780321595492

Answer: Electric FishThe voltage produced by a single

Chapter 23 textbook questions

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