Question

A bug zapper consists of two metal plates connected to a high-voltage power supply. The voltage between the plates is set to give an electric field slightly less than 1×10⁶ V/m . When a bug flies between the two plates, it increases the field enough to initiate a spark that incinerates the bug.

If a bug zapper has a 7000 V power supply, what is the approximate separation between the plates?
(a) 7×10⁻² cm
(b) 0.7 cm
(c) 7 cm
(d) 70 cm

Answer 1

(b) 0.7 cm

Step-by-step explanation:

E = Electric field =
`1* 10^6\ V/m`

V = Voltage = 7000 V

d = Seperation between the plates

Electric field is given by

`E=(V)/(d)`

`\\\Rightarrow d=(V)/(E)\\\Rightarrow d=(7000)/(1* 10^6)\\\Rightarrow d=0.007\ m=0.7\ cm`

The approximate separation between the plates is 0.7 cm