Answer:
The cell membrane, which is an important structure in the cell, can be approximated as a parallel-plate capacitor.
This is because the membrane contains a layer of lipids, which have a charge distribution on their surfaces.
The electric field within the membrane can be found using Gauss's law of electrostatics, which states that:
E = Q/ε0A
where E is the electric field strength, Q is the total charge on the capacitor, ε0 is the permittivity of free space, and A is the surface area of the capacitor.
To find the electric field within the membrane, we need to determine the surface charge density and surface area of the membrane.
The surface charge density is given as:
sigma = 5.9 x 10^-6 C./m^2
The surface area of the membrane is given by:
A = 2πr^2
where r is the radius of the cell.
Using this information, we can determine the electric field within the membrane:
E = Q/ε0A
E = (5.9 x 10^-6 x 2πr^2) / (8.85 x 10^-12 x πr^2)
E = 4.1 x 10^-4 N/C
Therefore, the electric field within the cell membrane is approximately 4.1 x 10^-4 N/C.