# 3) A bug zapper consists of two metal plates connected to a high-voltage power supply. The...

## Question:

3) A bug zapper consists of two metal plates connected to a high-voltage power supply. The voltage between the plates is set to give an electric field slightly less than 1*10{eq}^6 {/eq} V/m. When a bug flies between the two plates, it increases the field enough to initiate a spark that incinerates the bug. If a bug zapper has a 3000 V power supply, what is the approximate separation between the plates? 0.3 cm

4) Sharks and related fish can sense the extremely weak electric fields emitted by their prey in the surrounding waters. These detectors, located in their noses and called ampullae, are so sensitive they can detect a voltage gradient of 1 {eq}\mu {/eq}V across1 cm of seawater. How far apart would you have to place the poles of a 1.5 V battery to achieve the same electric field? 1.5*10{eq}^4 {/eq} m

EXPLAIN

## Electric field in a Capacitor:

A capacitor is an electronic device that generates electric field in its plates. Its electric field is equal to the ratio between the potential difference and the spacing between the plates of the capacitor.

(3) To solve this, we use the equation given as:

{eq}d = \frac{V}{E} {/eq}

where:

• d is the distance
• V is the potential
• E is the electric field

Inserting the values of the available parameters, we write:

{eq}d = \frac{(3000)}{(1.1\times10^6)} \\ d = 0.003 \ m \\ d = 0.3 cm {/eq}

(4) Using the equation for electric field, we write:

{eq}E = \frac{(1\times10^{-6})}{0.01} \\ E = 0.0001 \ \frac{V}{m} {/eq}

Now, the distance to the poles should be:

{eq}D = \frac{1.5}{0.0001} \\ D = 1500 \ m {/eq}