Imagine
touching an electric eel - that would probably hurt a lot. Now, imagine
touching an electric eel for science! That's what one biologist at
Vanderbilt University did to get an accurate measurement of an electric
eel's shock.
Vanderbilt University researcher Ken Catania stuck
his arm into a tank with a small eel - 10 times. Measuring the shock
from this experience allowed him to solve an equation he extrapolated to
measure the power released by big eels - whose shock is said to be like
getting tasered nine times at once.
"Eels are essentially batteries immersed in water, and I wanted to solve
the question of how powerful those batteries are," said Catania. "What’s the internal
resistance of the battery? What’s the resistance of the water? My past
research left out the last variable: my arm."
To get an
accurate measurement, Catania created a device that utilized a copper
wire to conduct the electricity from the shock to his arm and then back
to the water.
You can check out his account of the experience
on Youtube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrJ7-3yruyQ . Also be
sure to check out the original story at:
http://earthsky.org/earth/biologist-puts-arm-electric-eel-tank-video
Photo Credit: David Ellis
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Sunday, October 1, 2017
Sunday Special - Shocking Eels
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