Chapter 19, Problem 44P

& Electric eel The South American eel can generate electric current that can stun and even kill nearby fish. The eel has 140 parallel rows of electric cells (0.15 V per cell). Each row has 5000 such cells for a total emf per row of 5000(0.15 V) = 750 V. Each row of cells also has about 1250 $\mathrm{**\#x03A9;}$ of internal resistance. Because each row has the same emf and the rows are connected together on each side, the eel's circuit can be represented as shown in Figure P19.44 —a 750-V emf source in senes with 140, 1250- $\Omega$ parallel internal resistances all connected across an external resistance (the seawater from the front of the eel to its back) of about 800 $\Omega$. Can the eel produce enough current to be dangerous to a person? Explain your answer. Identify all assumptions that you made.