Nerve cells in your body can be electrically stimulated; a large enough change i

Question

Nerve cells in your body can be electrically stimulated; a large enough change in a membrane potential triggers a nerve impulse. Certain plants work the same way. A touch to mimosa pudica, the "sensitive plant," causes the leaflets to fold inward and droop. We can trigger this response electrically as well. In one experiment, investigators placed electrodes on the thick tissue at the base of a leaf. The electrodes were 3.5 mm apart. When the electrodes were connected to a 47 F capacitor charged to 1.5 V, this stimulated a response from the plant. Eventually, all the charge on the capacitor was transferred to the plant.

How much charge was transferred?

What was the approximate electric field between the electrodes?

Explanation / Answer

charged stored on a capacitor,

Q = C V

if all the charge transferred,

then charge , Q = (47 uF) (1.5 V)

Q = 70.5 uC Or 70.5 x 10^-6 C  

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E = V /d = (1.5 V) / (3.5 x 10^-3 m)

E = 429 V/m Or N/C

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