Question

Membrane walls of living cells have surprisingly large electric fields across them due to separation of ions. What is the voltage across an 8.47-nm-thick membrane if the electric field strength across it is 8.76 MV/m? You may assume a uniform E-field.

Answer 1

Voltage, V = 0.0741 volts

Step-by-step explanation:

It is given that,

Width of membrane,
`d=8.47\ nm=8.47* 10^(-9)\ m`

Electric field strength,
`E=8.76\ MV/m=8.76* 10^6\ V/m`

We need to find the voltage across membrane. Electric field is given by :

`E=(V)/(d)`

`V=E* d`

`V=8.76* 10^6\ V/m* 8.47* 10^(-9)\ m`

V = 0.0741 V

So, the voltage across the membrane is 0.0741 volts. Hence, this is the required solution.