Final answer:
To find the voltage needed for a defibrillator delivering a 10.0-mA current across a 500-ohm resistance, convert the current to amperes and apply Ohm's Law. The calculation shows that a voltage of 5 volts is needed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question relates to the appropriate voltage to use for a defibrillator during open-heart surgery, where the resistance and the required current are provided. To determine the voltage needed, Ohm's Law (V = I x R) can be applied. In the given scenario, the defibrillator needs to deliver a 10.0-mA current across a resistance of 500 ohms.
First, convert the current from milliamperes to amperes by dividing by 1000, which gives us 0.01 A. Then, multiply this current by the resistance to find the voltage: V = 0.01 A x 500 Ω = 5 volts. Therefore, a voltage of 5 volts should be applied to achieve the required current through the resistance of the path.