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

Answer:

(b) 0.7 cm

Explanation:

E = Electric field = $1\times 10^6\ V/m$

V = Voltage = 7000 V

d = Seperation between the plates

Electric field is given by

$E=\dfrac{V}{d}$

$\\\Rightarrow d=\dfrac{V}{E}\\\Rightarrow d=\dfrac{7000}{1\times 10^6}\\\Rightarrow d=0.007\ m=0.7\ cm$

The approximate separation between the plates is 0.7 cm