Final answer:
Maximizing the electric potential across a membrane involves active transport of ions creating an electrochemical gradient, resulting in an electric field due to charge separation. Changes in ion concentration and membrane permeability, as well as the cell's energy investment, play significant roles.
Step-by-step explanation:
To make an electric potential occur across a membrane and maximize it, processes such as active transport of ions create an electrochemical gradient. Separation of charges leads to a potential difference across the cell membrane, typically around 70 to 90 mV. In generating a strong electric field, a cell membrane of about 7 to 10 nm thickness can display values on the order of 11 MV/m, which significantly influences its structure and permeability.
When a nerve cell is stimulated, sodium ions (Na+) enter the cell, shifting the membrane potential from negative to positive, triggering a nerve signal. Maintaining this potential difference is energy-intensive, consuming about 25% of a cell's energy. Maximizing the membrane potential involves factors such as ion concentration, membrane permeability, and membrane thickness, which contribute to the magnitude of the electric field across it.