Calculating Charge & Battery Life of Pacemakers

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the charge capacity and expected lifetime of lithium-iodine batteries used in pacemakers. The problem involves understanding the relationship between current, charge, and time, as well as unit conversions related to electrical measurements.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the equation I = Q/t and how to derive charge from the given current and time. Questions arise regarding the interpretation of "x h" in the context of time and how to convert units of current, specifically the meaning of "mcA".

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided calculations for charge in coulombs and clarified unit conversions, while others are still questioning the implications of the given data and how to approach the second part of the problem. There is no explicit consensus on the final solution, but productive dialogue is occurring.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the lack of explicit time information in the problem statement and discuss the implications of this absence on their calculations. The discussion also highlights the need for clarity on electrical units and their conversions.

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Pacemakers which are designed for long-term use commonly employ a lithium-iodine battery capable of supplying 0.42 A x h of charge. (a) How many coloumbs of charge can such a battery supply? (b) If the average current produced by the pacemaker is 5.6 mcA, what is the expected lifetime of the device?

I am pretty sure I have to use the equation I = Q/t, so Q = It? How do I get t, since it is not mentioned at all? Does this have anything to do with the "x h" mentioned in the problem?
 
Last edited:
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what unit make up an Ampere??

since I = Q/t
and time is in what units?

can you figure out how to d oyour problem now??
 
A = C/s, so C = As = (0.42)(3600) = 1512C. As for part (b), what is 5.6 mcA? I see the A, but was does mc mean?
 
Last edited:
FlipStyle1308 said:
A = C/s, so C = As = (0.42)(3600) = 1512C. As for part (b), what is 5.6 mcA? I see the A, but was does mc mean?

mc = micro (althouhg usually they use the symbol mu \mu)

micro = 10^-6
 
Okay, I correctly solved this problem, thank you!
 

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