In a follow-up experiment, a charge of +40 pC was placed at...

In a follow-up experiment, a charge of $+40$ pC was placed at the center of an artificial flower at the end of a 30-cm long stem. Bees were observed to approach no closer than 15 cm from the center of this flower before they flew away. This observation suggests that the smallest external electric field to which bees may be sensitive is closest to which of these values? (a) $2.4 \space N/C; (b) 16 \space N/C; (c) 2.7 \times 10^{-10} \space N/C; (d) 4.8 \times 10^{-10} \space N/C.$

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Key Concepts

Threshold Sensitivity

Threshold sensitivity refers to the minimum intensity of an external stimulus—in this case, an electric field—that an organism can detect. Understanding this concept is essential in studies where the minimal perceptible electric field strength is determined through experimental observations of biological responses.

Electric Field

An electric field is a region surrounding a charged object within which a force is exerted on other charges. The strength of an electric field, which is measured in newtons per coulomb (N/C), is defined as the force experienced per unit positive charge. It is calculated using the formula E = kQ/r² for point charges, where k is Coulomb's constant, Q is the source charge, and r is the distance from the charge.

Coulomb's Law

Coulomb's Law quantifies the amount of force between two charges, stating that the electric force is directly proportional to the product of the magnitudes of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This law is fundamental for determining the magnitude of the electric field created by a point charge.

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