The voltage produced by a single nerve or muscle cell is quite small, but there

Question

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 the figure. 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.

Part A In an electric eel, each electrocyte can develop a voltage of 151 mV for a short time. For a total voltage of 453 V , how many electrocytes must be connected in series? In an electric eel, each electrocyte can develop a voltage of 151 for a short time. For a total voltage of 453 , how many electrocytes must be connected in series?

b) 453

c) 1510

d) 3000

Part B An electric eel produces a pulse of current of 0.800 A at a voltage of 520 V . For the short time of the pulse, what is the instantaneous power? An electric eel produces a pulse of current of 0.800 at a voltage of 520 . For the short time of the pulse, what is the instantaneous power?

a) 416 W

b) 516 W

c) 641 W

d) 832 W

Part C 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? 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.

Part D: The electric catfish is another electric fish that produces a voltage pulse by means of stacks of electrocytes. As the fish grows in length, the magnitude of the voltage pulse the fish produces grows as well. What is the best explanation for this change? The electric catfish is another electric fish that produces a voltage pulse by means of stacks of electrocytes. As the fish grows in length, the magnitude of the voltage pulse the fish produces grows as well. What is the best explanation for this change?

a) As the fish grows, the voltage produced by each electrocyte increases.

b) As the fish grows, more electrocytes are added to each stack.

c) As the fish grows, more stacks of electrocytes are added in parallel to the existing stacks.

d) As the fish grows, the thickness of the electrocytes increases.

Electrolyse ing depoieization od one side of cell Sodium chamels op on this sie ony ara Na : Thare is a net voge acros the cell

Explanation / Answer

Part A
total no. of electrocytes = n= 453/ 151 mV= 3000 (option d )

Part B

power is given by I*V = 0.800 A* 520 = 416 W ( option A)

PART C

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

PART D

b) As the fish grows, more electrocytes are added to each stack.

this is beacuse adding voltage in series increases the potential , in this case the voltage pulse.

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