Final answer:
To determine the voltage required for defibrillation with a known resistance and current, apply Ohm's Law. For a resistance of 500 ohms and a necessary 10.0 mA current, a voltage of 5 volts should be applied.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Cardioversion and Defibrillation Voltage
During open-heart surgery, using a defibrillator is critical for bringing a patient out of cardiac arrest. To determine the appropriate voltage to apply through a defibrillator when we know the required current and the resistance of the path, we use Ohm's Law, which states that Voltage (V) equals Current (I) times Resistance (R). In the provided scenario, the resistance is 500 ohms and the required current is 10.0 milliamperes (mA). Converting milliamperes to amperes gives us 0.010 amperes.
By applying Ohm's Law, we calculate the voltage needed:
Voltage V = Current I in amperes * Resistance R in ohmsV = 0.010 A * 500 Ω = 5 V
Therefore, the voltage that should be applied to produce the necessary 10.0 mA current across a resistance of 500 ohms is 5 volts. This precise application of voltage is vital to ensure a brief but intense current that can cause an effective contraction of the heart, supporting its return to a normal rhythm without causing harm, such as ventricular fibrillation that may occur with voltages as low as that produced by a current of 20.0 μA through a resistance of 300 ohms.
In summary, special electrical precautions are indeed required when using a defibrillator, due to the potential dangers of applying electrical currents to the heart during medical procedures.resistance of 500 ohms and a needed current of 10.0 mA, a voltage of 5 volts should be applied during cardioversion or defibrillation procedures.