Question

The gap between electrodes in a spark plug is 0.06 cm. In order to produce an electric spark in a gasoline-air mixture, the electric field must reach a value of 3 x 10^6 V/m. What minimum voltage must be supplied by the ignition circuit when starting the car?​

Answer 1

The minimum voltage required by the ignition circuit to produce an electric spark in a gasoline-air mixture with a 0.06 cm electrode gap is 1800 volts or 1.8 kV.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking what minimum voltage is necessary to produce an electric spark in a gasoline-air mixture in a car's ignition system, given that the gap between the electrodes in the spark plug is 0.06 cm and the required electric field strength is 3 x 106 V/m.

The minimum voltage Vmin necessary can be determined using the relationship between the electric field E, the voltage V, and the distance d:

E = V/d

By rearranging the formula to solve for V, we get:

V = E * d

Using the provided electric field strength and distance:

Vmin = (3 x 106 V/m) * (0.06 x 10-2 m)

Vmin = 3 x 106 * 0.0006 V

Vmin = 1800 V

This means that the minimum voltage required by the ignition circuit to start the car is 1800 volts or 1.8 kV.