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Electric Potential Question. Need help.?
Here's the question:
Suppose that the electric potential outside a living cell is higher than that inside the cell by 0.079 V. How much work is done by the electric force when a sodium ion (charge = +e) moves from the outside to the inside? Please answer in J.
I don't undertsand how this works from the textbook, so can someone explain it to me? It said something about Electric Potential Energy, but I don't know how to find the Electric Potential Energy. Either that, or I forgot.
1 Answer
- AvinashLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
Let Vout = eletric potential outside the cell,
Vin = electric potential inside the cell,
Uout = electric potential energy of sodium ion outside the cell,
Uin = electric potential energy of sodium ion inside the cell
Vout - Vin = 0.079 V
Charge on sodium ion = +1.6 * 10^-19 C
Uout - Uin = 1.6*10^-19 * (Vout - Vin)
= 1.6 * 10^-19 * 0.079
= 1.264 * 10^-20 J
Work done by electric force in moving the ion from the outside to the inside = Uout - Uin = 1.264 * 10^-20 J
Ans: 1.264 * 10^-20 J
Tip: Multiply charge with electric potential to find electric potential energy.