The 9-inch-long elephant nose fish in the Congo River generates a weak electric

Question

The 9-inch-long elephant nose fish in the Congo River generates a weak electric field around its body using an organ in its tail. When small prey (or even potential mates) swim within a few feet of the fish, they perturb the electric field. The change in the field is picked up by electric sensor cells in the skin of the elephant nose. These remarkable fish can detect changes in the electric field as small as 3.00 IN/C. How much charge (modeled as a point charge) in the fish would be needed to produce such a change in the electric field at a distance of 71.5 cm? Number How many electrons would be required to create that charge? Number electrons

Explanation / Answer

Solution:

Let us go to the basics first.

We know that Electric field E is given by following relation:

E = kQ/r2

=>Q = Er2 / k = (3*10-6 N/C)*(71.5*10-2 m)2 / (9*109 Nm2/C2)

=>Q = 1.704*10-16 C (Answer)

No. of electrons = Q / magnitude of Charge on one electron

=> No. of electrons = 1.704*10-16 C/(1.6*10-19 C) = 1065 electrons (Answer)

Thanks!!!

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