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Electric eels generate electric pulses along their skin that can be used to stun an enemy when they come into contact with it. Tests have shown that these pulses can be up to 500 V and produce currents of 80 mA (or even larger). A typical pulse lasts for 10 ms. What power and how much energy are delivered to the unfortunate enemy with a single pulse, assuming a steady current?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Power is 40 W; energy is 0.4 J per pulse.

Step by step solution

01

Identify Given Values

The problem provides certain key values: - Voltage (V) = 500 V - Current (I) = 80 mA = 0.08 A - Time (t) = 10 ms = 0.01 s. These will be used to solve the problem.
02

Calculate the Power Delivered

The formula for power (P) using voltage (V) and current (I) is given by \( P = V \times I \). Substituting the given values, we have:\[ P = 500\, \text{V} \times 0.08\, \text{A} = 40\, \text{W}. \]This means the power delivered by the electric pulse is 40 W.
03

Calculate the Energy Delivered

Energy (E) can be calculated using the formula \( E = P \times t \), where \( t \) is the time in seconds.Using the power calculated in Step 2:\[ E = 40\, \text{W} \times 0.01\, \text{s} = 0.4\, \text{J}. \]The energy delivered by a single pulse is therefore 0.4 Joules.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Voltage
Voltage is one of the most important aspects of electrical circuits. It is often described as the electric potential difference between two points. You can think of it like the water pressure in a hose. The higher the pressure, the stronger the water flows out.
In electrical terms, voltage is the force that pushes the electric charges through a circuit. It is measured in volts (V).
  • Voltage is essential because without it, charges do not move, and no electrical work can be done.
  • In the case of electric eels, they generate a voltage of 500 V to create an electric pulse powerful enough to stun their prey.
The eels’ body acts as a natural battery, storing electrical energy and releasing it rapidly to deliver a shock. Without their ability to generate such high voltage, they would not be able to use electricity to catch prey effectively.
Current
Current is the measure of the flow of electric charge. Imagine it as the flow rate of water in a river. In simple terms, current is how many electric charges pass a point in the circuit each second. Measured in amperes (A), it reflects the intensity of the electricity flowing.
For electric eels, the current during a pulse can reach up to 80 milliamperes (mA), which is equivalent to 0.08 A.
  • Current is crucial because it is the actual flow of electricity that can perform work or generate heat.
  • A higher current means more electricity flowing, which enables stronger impacts, like stunning prey.
Current's role is especially pivotal because it interplays with voltage to determine the electric power, which is the rate at which energy is transferred or converted.
Energy Transfer
Energy transfer through electrical means is a process where electric energy travels from one place to another. The main formula for calculating this energy is by multiplying power (in watts) by time (in seconds).
Energy transfer is the total work done or energy passed during this process, stated in joules (J).
  • For an electric eel, the energy transfer happens when the stored electric energy is released in a fast burst, shocking the prey.
  • The step-by-step solution showed us that during one pulse, the energy delivered is 0.4 Joules. This energy amount is enough to create a significant impact, thanks to the rapid timing and precision of the pulse.
Energy transfer showcases how efficiently the electric eel can convert stored energy into an active form, emphasizing the power and precision of biological systems when it comes to managing electrical energy.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

A person with body resistance between his hands of 10 k\(\Omega\) accidentally grasps the terminals of a 14-kV power supply. (a) If the internal resistance of the power supply is 2000 \(\Omega\), what is the current through the person's body? (b) What is the power dissipated in his body? (c) If the power supply is to be made safe by increasing its internal resistance, what should the internal resistance be for the maximum current in the above situation to be 1.00 mA or less?

Unlike the idealized ammeter described in Section 25.4, any real ammeter has a nonzero resistance. (a) An ammeter with resistance \(R_A\) is connected in series with a resistor \(R\) and a battery of emf \(\varepsilon\) and internal resistance r. The current measured by the ammeter is \(I_A\). Find the current through the circuit if the ammeter is removed so that the battery and the resistor form a complete circuit. Express your answer in terms of \(I_A\), \(r\), \(R_A\), and \(R\). The more "ideal" the ammeter, the smaller the difference between this current and the current IA. (b) If \(R\) = 3.80 \(\Omega\), \(\varepsilon\) = 7.50 V, and \(r\) = 0.45 \(\Omega\), find the maximum value of the ammeter resistance \(R_A\) so that \(I_A\) is within 1.0% of the current in the circuit when the ammeter is absent. (c) Explain why your answer in part (b) represents a \(maximum\) value.

A 5.00-A current runs through a 12-gauge copper wire (diameter 2.05 mm) and through a light bulb. Copper has \(8.5 \times 10^{28}\) free electrons per cubic meter. (a) How many electrons pass through the light bulb each second? (b) What is the current density in the wire? (c) At what speed does a typical electron pass by any given point in the wire? (d) If you were to use wire of twice the diameter, which of the above answers would change? Would they increase or decrease?

You apply a potential difference of 4.50 V between the ends of a wire that is 2.50 m in length and 0.654 mm in radius. The resulting current through the wire is 17.6 A. What is the resistivity of the wire?

A copper wire has a square cross section 2.3 mm on a side. The wire is 4.0 m long and carries a current of 3.6 A. The density of free electrons is 8.5 \(\times\) 10\(^{28}\)/m\({^3}\). Find the magnitudes of (a) the current density in the wire and (b) the electric field in the wire. (c) How much time is required for an electron to travel the length of the wire?

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