An electric catfish can generate a significant potential difference using stacks of special cells called electrocytes. Each electrocyte develops a potential difference of 110 mV.
How many cells must be connected in series to give the 350V a large catfish can produce?
110m/V=0.110V
n(0.110)=350
n=3182 (rounded)
To calculate the number of cells needed to produce a potential difference of 350V, we can use the formula:
Number of cells = Total potential difference / Potential difference per cell
Given that the potential difference per cell is 110 mV and the total potential difference is 350V, we need to convert the units to be consistent:
110 mV = 0.11 V
Now we can substitute the values into the formula:
Number of cells = 350V / 0.11V
Number of cells ≈ 3181.82
Therefore, we would need approximately 3181.82 cells connected in series to generate a potential difference of 350V in a large catfish. Since we can't have a fraction of a cell, we would round up to the nearest whole number.
So, the answer is 3182 cells.
To determine the number of cells required to generate a specific potential difference, we can use the formula:
Number of cells = Total potential difference / Potential difference per cell
In this case, the total potential difference is given as 350V, and the potential difference per cell is 110 mV, or 0.11V (converting mV to V). Plugging these values into the formula, we get:
Number of cells = 350V / 0.11V = 3181.82
Since we can't have a fraction of a cell, we round up to the nearest whole number. Therefore, the large catfish would need approximately 3182 cells connected in series to generate a potential difference of 350V.