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Textbook Solutions for University Physics with Modern Physics (1)

Chapter 26 Problem 26.85

Question

Attenuator Chains and Axons. The infinite network of resistors shown in Fig. P26.83 is known as an attenuator chain, since this chain of resistors causes the potential difference between the upper and lower wires to decrease, or attenuate, along the length of the chain. (a) Show that if the potential difference between the points a and b in Fig. 26.83 is Vab, then the potential difference between points c and d is Vcd = Vab>11 + b2, where b = 2R11RT + R22>RTR2 and RT, the total resistance of the network, is given in Challenge 26.83. (See the hint given in that problem.) (b) If the potential difference between terminals a and b at the left end of the infinite network is V0, show that the potential difference between the upper and lower wires n segments from the left end is Vn = V0>11 + b2n . If R1 = R2, how many segments are needed to decrease the potential difference Vn to less than 1.0% of V0? (c) An infinite attenuator chain provides a model of the propagation of a voltage pulse along a nerve fiber, or axon. Each segment of the network in Fig. P26.83 represents a short segment of the axon of length x. The resistors R1 represent the resistance of the fluid inside and outside the membrane wall of the axon. The resistance of the membrane to current flowing through the wall is represented by R2. For an axon segment of length x = 1.0 mm, R1 = 6.4 * 103 and R2 = 8.0 * 108 (the membrane wall is a good insulator). Calculate the total resistance RT and b for an infinitely long axon. (This is a good approximation, since the length of an axon is much greater than its width; the largest axons in the human nervous system are longer than 1 m but only about 10-7 m in radius.) (d) By what fraction does the potential difference between the inside and outside of the axon decrease over a distance of 2.0 mm? (e) The attenuation of the potential difference calculated in part (d) shows that the axon cannot simply be a passive, current-carrying electrical cable; the potential difference must periodically be reinforced along the axons length. This reinforcement mechanism is slow, so a signal propagates along the axon at only about 30 m>s. In situations where faster response is required, axons are covered with a segmented sheath of fatty myelin. The segments are about 2 mm long, separated by gaps called the nodes of Ranvier. The myelin increases the resistance of a 1.0@mm@long segment of the membrane to R2 = 3.3 * 1012 . For such a myelinated axon, by what fraction does the potential difference between the inside and outside of the axon decrease over the distance from one node of Ranvier to the next? This smaller attenuation means the propagation speed is increased.

Solution

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The first step in solving 26 problem number 106 trying to solve the problem we have to refer to the textbook question: Attenuator Chains and Axons. The infinite network of resistors shown in Fig. P26.83 is known as an attenuator chain, since this chain of resistors causes the potential difference between the upper and lower wires to decrease, or attenuate, along the length of the chain. (a) Show that if the potential difference between the points a and b in Fig. 26.83 is Vab, then the potential difference between points c and d is Vcd = Vab>11 + b2, where b = 2R11RT + R22>RTR2 and RT, the total resistance of the network, is given in Challenge 26.83. (See the hint given in that problem.) (b) If the potential difference between terminals a and b at the left end of the infinite network is V0, show that the potential difference between the upper and lower wires n segments from the left end is Vn = V0>11 + b2n . If R1 = R2, how many segments are needed to decrease the potential difference Vn to less than 1.0% of V0? (c) An infinite attenuator chain provides a model of the propagation of a voltage pulse along a nerve fiber, or axon. Each segment of the network in Fig. P26.83 represents a short segment of the axon of length x. The resistors R1 represent the resistance of the fluid inside and outside the membrane wall of the axon. The resistance of the membrane to current flowing through the wall is represented by R2. For an axon segment of length x = 1.0 mm, R1 = 6.4 * 103 and R2 = 8.0 * 108 (the membrane wall is a good insulator). Calculate the total resistance RT and b for an infinitely long axon. (This is a good approximation, since the length of an axon is much greater than its width; the largest axons in the human nervous system are longer than 1 m but only about 10-7 m in radius.) (d) By what fraction does the potential difference between the inside and outside of the axon decrease over a distance of 2.0 mm? (e) The attenuation of the potential difference calculated in part (d) shows that the axon cannot simply be a passive, current-carrying electrical cable; the potential difference must periodically be reinforced along the axons length. This reinforcement mechanism is slow, so a signal propagates along the axon at only about 30 m>s. In situations where faster response is required, axons are covered with a segmented sheath of fatty myelin. The segments are about 2 mm long, separated by gaps called the nodes of Ranvier. The myelin increases the resistance of a 1.0@mm@long segment of the membrane to R2 = 3.3 * 1012 . For such a myelinated axon, by what fraction does the potential difference between the inside and outside of the axon decrease over the distance from one node of Ranvier to the next? This smaller attenuation means the propagation speed is increased.
From the textbook chapter Direct-current circuits you will find a few key concepts needed to solve this.

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Title University Physics with Modern Physics (1) 14 
Author Hugh D. Young Roger A. Freedman
ISBN 9780321973610

Solved: Attenuator Chains and Axons. The infinite network

Chapter 26 textbook questions

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