A spark plug in a bike or a car is used to ignite the air - fuel mixture in the engine. It consists of two electrodes separated by a gap of around 0.6 mm gap as shown in the figure.

To create the spark an electric field of magnitude `3xx10^(6)Vm^(-1)` is required. (a) What potential difference must be applied to produce the spark ? ( b) If the gap is increased , does the potential defference increase decrease or remains the same the same ? ( c) find the potential difference if the gap is 1 mm .

Explanation

Separation gap between two electrodes , d= 0.6 mm
d=`0.6 xx10^(-3)m`
Magnetude of electric field `E= 3xx10^(6)Vm^(-1)`
Electric field `E= (V)/(d)`
(a) Applied potential difference V=E. d
`= 3xx10^(6)xx0.6 xx10^(-13) = 1.8 xx10^(3)`
V= 1800 V
(b) From equation V= E. d
If the gap (distance ) between the electrodes increased the potential difference also increases. ( c) Gap between the electrodes `" " d =1mm =1 xx10^(-3)` m
Potential difference `" " ` V= E.d
`= 3xx10^(6)xx1 xx10^(-3) = 3xx103 `
V = 3000 V