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 1×10^6 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:

The separation between the plates is 0.7 cm.

(b) is correct option.

Explanation:

Given that,

Electric filed $E=1\times10^{6}\ V/m$

Voltage = 7000 V

Electric filed is equal to the voltage divided by the separation between the plates.

We need to calculate the separation between the plates

Using formula of electric field

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

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

Where, V = voltage

E = electric field

Put the value into the formula

$d=\dfrac{7000}{1\times10^{6}}$

$d=0.007\ m$

$d=0.7\ cm$

Hence, The separation between the plates is 0.7 cm.