When you walk across a rug on a dry day, your body can become electrified, and i

Question

When you walk across a rug on a dry day, your body can become electrified, and its electric potential can change. When the potential becomes large enough, a spark of negative charges can jump between your hand and a metal surface. A spark occurs when the electric field strength created by the charges on your body reaches the dielectric strength of the air. The dielectric strength of air is 3.00 x 106 N/C and is the electric field strength at which the air suffers electrical breakdown. Suppose a spark 3.80 mm long jumps between your hand and a metal doorknob. Assuming that the electric field is uniform, find the potential difference (Vknob - Vhand) between your hand and the doorknob.

Explanation / Answer

E = Ec = 3*10^6 = v/d

v=Ecd = 3*10^6(4.35*10^-3)

= 13.05*10^3

v=13,000v

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