Question

If a delicate manufacturing process can be damaged by an electrical discharge greater than 1012 electrons, what is the maximum number of complete steps that any worker should be allowed to take before touching the components?.

Answer 1

Workers should not take more than
`10^1^2` (1 trillion) complete steps before touching the components in order to avoid an electrical discharge that could potentially damage the delicate manufacturing process.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the context of the question, the concern is about the accumulation of static electricity during the workers' movement, which could lead to an electrical discharge. The threshold for potential damage is set at 10^12 electrons.

To determine the maximum number of complete steps, we need to understand that each step generates a certain amount of static electricity. However, the exact number of electrons generated per step is not provided. If we assume a conservative estimate, let's say 10 electrons per step, then the calculation would be as follows:

Maximum Steps = Threshold for Damage / Electrons per Step

Maximum Steps =
`10^(12)` / 10

Maximum Steps =
`10^(11)`

So, under this assumption, workers should not take more than 10^11 (100 billion) complete steps before touching the components to prevent the accumulation of electrons exceeding the specified threshold.

It's essential to note that the calculation depends on the assumed number of electrons generated per step, and the actual number may vary based on the specific conditions of the manufacturing process.

Answer 2

To prevent damage from electrical discharge greater than 10¹² electrons, the specific number of safe steps cannot be definitively calculated without specific data on charge per step. Instead, industries use electrostatic discharge control methods to ground personnel and prevent the buildup of dangerous charge levels.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the maximum number of steps a worker should take before touching sensitive components in a manufacturing process, we need to consider the static electricity that can be generated by walking. A single step can generate a significant amount of static charge, and we are given that the manufacturing process can be damaged by an electrical discharge greater than 10¹² electrons.

First, we should calculate the charge represented by 10¹² electrons. Recall that the charge of a single electron is

Since most people are unaware of the exact amount of charge they accumulate per step, it is standard in industry to use electrostatic discharge (ESD) control methods such as ESD wrist straps or conductive footwear to continuously ground personnel, effectively preventing the build-up of charges that could exceed the threshold. Since this question requires a numerical maximum step number but does not provide specific data on charge per step, we cannot provide an exact step count. Nevertheless, the industry relies on ESD control methods, rather than counting steps, to protect against discharge damage.

To avoid any risks associated with exceeding the charge limits, special ESD precautions are necessary in any environment where this charge threshold could pose a potential threat to sensitive equipment.