Concept explainers
BIO Signals in nerve cells stimulate muscles The input end of a human nerve cell is connected to an output end by a long, thin, cylindrical axon. A signal at the input end is caused by a stretch sensor, a temperature sensor, contact with another cell or nerve, or some other stimulus. At the output end, the nerve signal can stimulate a muscle cell to perform a function (to contract provide information to the brain etc).
The axon of a so-called unmyelinated human nerve cell has a radius of
When an external source stimulates the input end of the nerve cell so the potential inside reaches about -50 mV, gates or channels in the membrane walls near that input open and sodium ions rush into the axon. This simulates neighboring gates to swing open and sodium ions rush into the axon farther along. This disturbance quickly travels along the axon—a nerve impulse The potential across the inside of the membrane changes in
Which answer below is closest to the resistance of the fluid inside a 0.5-m-long unmyelinated axon?
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionChapter 19 Solutions
College Physics
Additional Science Textbook Solutions
The Cosmic Perspective Fundamentals (2nd Edition)
Introduction to Electrodynamics
Lecture- Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy
Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern Physics
Essential University Physics (3rd Edition)
Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach, Vol. 1 (Chs 1-21) (4th Edition)
- Some physical systems possessing capacitance continuously distributed over space can be modeled as an infinite array of discrete circuit elements. Examples are a microwave waveguide and the axon of a nerve cell. To practice analysis of an infinite array, determine the equivalent capacitance C between terminals X and Y of the infinite set of capacitors represented in Figure P25.47. Each capacitor has capacitance C0. Suggestions: Imagine that the ladder is cut at the line AB and note that the equivalent capacitance of the infinite section to the right of AB is also C.arrow_forwardYou are working in a laboratory, using very sensitive measurement equipment. Your supervisor has explained that the equipment is also very sensitive to electrical discharge from human operators. Specification tables for the equipment indicate that an electrical discharge providing even a very small amount of energy of 250 J is enough to damage the equipment. Your supervisor wants to install an apparatus that will be used to remove the electrical charge from individuals bodies before they touch the equipment. To do this, she asks you to estimate (a) the capacitance of the human body and determine (b) the charge on the body and (c) the electric potential of the body, relative to a point infinitely far away, corresponding to the energy transfer that will damage the equipment.arrow_forwardYou have been called in as an expert witness in a civil case. The case involves a dispute between neighbors. The plaintiff neighbor is complaining about a buzzing noise during the night that prevents the plaintiff from sleeping. He claims that the buzzing is coming from a light fixture on the defendants porch ceiling. The defendant likes to do installations and repairs himself and has done a sloppy job of installing the light fixture. The fixture hangs vertically from a single wire that is attached through the porch ceiling and down the wall to one connector in a nearby electrical outlet. The second wire is hung horizontally with strings at the level of the light and then runs down the wall to the other connector in the outlet. The defendant leaves the light on all night long for security. Recalling his high school physics, the plaintiff states that the combination of the 60-Hz household voltage and the magnetic field of the Earth results in an oscillating driving force on the single wire from which the light fixture hangs vertically. This, in turn, sets up a standing wave in the wire, and that is the cause of the buzz. You have been hired by the defense attorney. Upon hearing the details of the case, you obtain permission from the defendant and make measurements. The mass of the light fixture is 17.5 kg. The vertical wire from which it hangs is 0.150 m long and has a mass of 0.030 kg. Is the plaintiff correct that the magnetic field of the Earth is causing the buzzing of the wire? Ignore any effect of the second wire.arrow_forward
- You have a faculty position at a community college and are teaching a class in automotive technology. You are deep in a discussion of using jumper cables to start a car with a dead battery from a car with a fresh battery. You have drawn the circuit diagram in Figure P27.16 to explain the process. The battery on the left is the live battery in the correctly functioning car, with emf and internal resistance RL, where the L subscript refers to live. Its terminals are connected directly across those of the dead battery, in the middle of the diagram, with emf and internal resistance RD, where the D subscript refers to dead. Then, the starter in the car with the dead battery is activated by closing the ignition switch, allowing the car to start. The resistance of the starter is RS. A student raises his hand and asks, So is the dead battery being charged while the starter is operating? How do you respond? Figure P27.16arrow_forwardIn places such as hospital operating rooms or factories for electronic circuit boards, electric sparks must be avoided. A prison standing on a grounded floor and touching nothing else can typically have a body capacitance of 150 pF, in parallel with a foot capacitance of 80.0 pF produced by the dielectric soles of his or her shoes. The person acquires static electric charge from interactions with Ills or her surroundings. The static charge flows to ground through the equivalent resistance of the two shoe soles in parallel with each other. A pair of rubber-soled street shoes can present an equivalent resistance of 5.00 103 M. A pair of shoes with special static-dissipative soles can have an equivalent resistance of 1.00 M. Consider the persons body and shoes as forming an RC circuit with the ground. (a) How long does it take the rubber-soled shoes to reduce a persons potential from 3.00 103 V to 100? (b) How long does it take the static-dissipative shoes to do the same thing?arrow_forwardYou have a faculty position at a community college and are m (caching a class in automotive technology. You are deep in a discussion of using jumper cables to start a car with a dead battery from a car with a fresh battery. You have drawn the circuit diagram in Figure P27.16 to explain the process. The battery on the left is the live batten- in the correctly functioning car, with emf and internal resistance RL where the L. subscript refers to live. Its terminals are connected directly across those of the dead battery, in the middle of the diagram, with emf and internal resistance RD where the D subscript refers to "dead Then, the starter in the car with the dead battery is activated by closing the ignition switch, allowing the car to start. The resistance of the starter is Rs. A student raises his hand and asks, So is the dead battery being charged while the starter is operating? How do you respond?arrow_forward
- Construct Your Own Problem Consider a camera's flash unit. Construct a problem in which you calculate the size of the capacitor that stores energy for the flash lamp. Among the things to be considered are th voltage applied to the capacitor, the energy needed in the flash and the associated charge needed on the capacitor, the resistance of the flash lamp during discharge, and the desired RC time constant.arrow_forwardIntegrated Concepts Use the ECG in Figure 20.34 to determine the heart rate in beats per minute assuming a constant time between beats. Figure 20.34 A lead II ECG with corresponding arterial blood pressure. The QRS complex is created by the depolarization and contraction of the ventricles and is followed shortly by the maximum or systolic blood pressure. See text for further description.arrow_forwardThe immediate cause of many deaths is ventricular fibrillation, which is an uncoordinated quivering of the heart. An electric shock to the chest can cause momentary paralysis of the heart muscle, after which the heart sometimes resumes its proper beating. One type of defibrillator (chapter-opening photo, page 777) applies a strong electric shock to the chest over a time interval of a few milliseconds. This device contains a capacitor of several microfarads, charged to several thousand volts. Electrodes called paddles are held against the chest on both sides of tire heart, and the capacitor is discharged through the patient's chest. Assume an energy of 300 J is to be delivered from a 30.0-F capacitor. To what potential difference must it be charged?arrow_forward
- Referring to Figure CQ28.6, describe what happens to the lightbulb after the switch is closed. Assume the capacitor has a large capacitance and is initially uncharged. Also assume the light illuminates when connected directly across the battery terminals.arrow_forwardYou are part of a team working in a machine parts mechanics shop. An important customer has asked your company to provide springs with a very precise force constant k. You dense the electrical circuit shown in Figure P25.45 to measure the spring constant of each of the springs to be provided to the customer. The circuit consists of two identical, parallel metal plates free to move, other than being connected to identical metal springs, a switch, and a battery with terminal voltage V. With the switch open, the plates are uncharged, are separated by a distance d, and have a capacitance C. When the switch is closed, the plates become charged and attract each other. The distance between the plates changes by a factor f, after which the plates are in equilibrium between the spring forces and the attractive electric force between the plates. To keep the plates from going into oscillations, you hold each plate with insulating gloves as the switch is closed and apply a force on the plates that allows them to move together at a slow constant speed until they are at the equilibrium separation, at which point you can release the plates. You determine an expression for the spring constant in terms of C, d, V, and f. Figure P25.45 Problems 45 and 50.arrow_forwardTwo capacitors, C1 = 25.0 F and C2 = 5.00 F, are connected in parallel and charged with a 100-V power supply. (a) Draw a circuit diagram and (b) calculate the total energy stored in the two capacitors. (c) What If? What potential difference would be required across the same two capacitors connected in series for the combination to store the same amount of energy as in part (b)? (d) Draw a circuit diagram of the circuit described in part (c).arrow_forward
- Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern ...PhysicsISBN:9781337553292Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage LearningPhysics for Scientists and EngineersPhysicsISBN:9781337553278Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage LearningPrinciples of Physics: A Calculus-Based TextPhysicsISBN:9781133104261Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage Learning
- College PhysicsPhysicsISBN:9781938168000Author:Paul Peter Urone, Roger HinrichsPublisher:OpenStax CollegePhysics for Scientists and Engineers, Technology ...PhysicsISBN:9781305116399Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage Learning