Many cells in the body havea cell membrane whose inner and outer surfaces carry oppositecharges, just like the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor. Suppose atypical cell membrane has a thickness of 8.1 * 10-9m, and its innerand outer surfaces carry charge densities of -0.58 * 10-3C>m2and +0.58 * 10-3C>m2, respectively. In addition, assume thatthe material in the cell membrane has a dielectric constant of 5.5.(a) Find the direction and magnitude of the electric field withinthe cell membrane. (b) Calculate the potential difference betweenthe inner and outer walls of the membrane, and indicate whichwall of the membrane has the higher potential.
Dielectric Constant Of Water
Water constitutes about 70% of earth. Some important distinguishing properties of water are high molar concentration, small dissociation constant and high dielectric constant.
Electrostatic Potential and Capacitance
An electrostatic force is a force caused by stationary electric charges /fields. The electrostatic force is caused by the transfer of electrons in conducting materials. Coulomb’s law determines the amount of force between two stationary, charged particles. The electric force is the force which acts between two stationary charges. It is also called Coulomb force.
Many cells in the body have
a cell membrane whose inner and outer surfaces carry opposite
charges, just like the plates of a parallel-plate capacitor. Suppose a
typical cell membrane has a thickness of 8.1 * 10-9
m, and its inner
and outer surfaces carry charge densities of -0.58 * 10-3
C>m2
and +0.58 * 10-3
C>m2
, respectively. In addition, assume that
the material in the cell membrane has a dielectric constant of 5.5.
(a) Find the direction and magnitude of the electric field within
the cell membrane. (b) Calculate the potential difference between
the inner and outer walls of the membrane, and indicate which
wall of the membrane has the higher potential.
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