Electric eels

An electric eel can generate a voltage of 600 V 600~\mbox{V} across its body. The eel does this via a system of up to 6000 “electroplaques” inside its body. What is the average strength of the electric field in V/m inside the body of a 10 cm 10~\mbox{cm} wide eel?

Details and assumptions

  • Treat the opposite sides of the eel as the plates of a parallel plate capacitor.


The answer is 6000.

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6 solutions

Discussions for this problem are now closed

Lokesh Sharma
Dec 31, 2013

V = E d E = V d E = 600 0.1 E = 6000 \quad \quad \quad V\quad =\quad E\quad d\\ \Rightarrow \quad E\quad =\quad \frac { V }{ d } \\ \Rightarrow \quad E\quad =\quad \frac { 600 }{ 0.1 } \\ \Rightarrow \quad E\quad =\quad 6000\\

Jubayer Nirjhor
Oct 21, 2013

E = V d = 600 V ( 10 cm / 100 ) m = 600 V 0.1 m = 6000 V/m \Large{E=\frac{V}{d} = \frac {600~\textrm{V}}{(10~\textrm{cm}/100)~\textrm{m}}=\frac{600~\textrm{V}}{0.1~\textrm{m}}=\fbox{6000}~\textrm{V/m}}

Andhika Rahardian
Oct 22, 2013

voltage of the eel is : 600 V 600 V

wide of the eel is : 10 c m 10 cm or 0.1 m 0.1 m

E = F ( E l e c t r i c F o r c e ) q ( c h a r g e ) E = \frac {F(Electric Force)}{q(charge)}

E = 600 V 0.1 m E = \frac {600 V}{0.1 m} = 6000 V / m \boxed {6000 V/m}

a little mistake , E = F q E= \frac {F}{q} should be E = F ( E l e c t r i c F o r c e ) d i s t a n c e E= \frac {F(Electric Force)}{distance} and Electric force is voltage.

Andhika Rahardian - 7 years, 7 months ago
Daniel Alfaro
Oct 21, 2013

In order to solve the problem we have to apply the theorem of gauss.

The flow σ \sigma is equal to σ = E δ ˙ S = 0 \sigma=\oint E \dot \delta S = 0 and to σ = i = 1 n Q ϵ 0 \sigma=\frac{\sum_{i=1}^{n}Q}{\epsilon_0} what we end up is a simple equation of E which is E = V r E=\frac{V}{r} due to the fact that ϵ 0 = 1 4 π k \epsilon_0=\frac{1}{4\pi k} and that V = k Q r V=k\frac{Q}{r}

Wow, by far the most advanced explanation for sure. Is it necessary to use such an analysis, rather than to simply assert that E = V r E = \frac{V}{r} ?

Ralph Schraven - 7 years, 7 months ago

There are 6000 Electroplaques, it means every 10 electroplaque produces 1 volt. Total length of eel is 10 cm, that means at every 1 cm there is an electroplaque, which can be treated as a parallel plate capacitor. Now, E = V/d = 600/(10 cm) = 600/(10x10^-2) = 6000

Jc Dela Paz
Jan 31, 2014

Given that the eel can generate at least 600 V in its body, I assumed that;

H=V/m

Where H is the variable for Electromagnetic Field. If what we are looking for is the strength of its electromagnetic field produce by its body we consider that the assumed equation is to followed.

Substituting the values with the given variables we get;

H= 600 V/ 10 cm

Since, the length is not in its standard form we need to convert it from centimeters to meter

10 cm x 1 m/ 100 cm = 0.10 m, thus

H= 600 V/ 0.10 m

H= 6000 V/m

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