INDEX Introduction to Bioelectromagnetism Pigeons Magnetotactic Bacteria Sharks Bibliography |
Electric Eels
|
|
Electric eels generate current through their highly specialized nervous system. This interacts with three electricity generating organs; the main organ, the Sach's organ, and the Hunter's organ. The nervous system of electric eels is able to connect with these organs and has control over whether electricity is released or not. The collection and release of energy is facilitated by the electrolytes (in this case, salts in water), which connect the organs and allow for the flow of current. This produces an electric charge, which can be release via neural control of the eel. Picture of electric eels are below. Eel Close up Electric Eel
http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2011/10/electric_eel2.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--_BJv4lt_6w/TgjDYSJq9pI/AAAAAAAAHfs
When the eel has identified
its prey, it can signal the electric cells in the
electricity generating organs, opening up ion channels
and depolarizing (reversing the polarity - the positive
and negative charges on either side of the membrane) the
cell membrane. This change in polarity generates a
current. This current can be released into the
environment. Different things can be done with the
released energy. In the case of an electric eel in
its natural habitat, it would use this mechanism to
capture and kill prey. However, when you combine
electric eels with the creativity of human, one can find
that these eels can power human electrical equipment,
such as a Christmas Tree, as one can see in the video
below.
Eel Power http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO00tPIYSUQ&feature=player_embedded
One can note that the eel
does not produce constant power, it simply cannot
produce a constant release of current. Therefore,
an eel is not a reliable source of alternative energy,
but can be used to an extent.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ “How Do
Electric Eels Generate a Voltage and Why Do They Not
Get Shocked in the Process?” Scientific
American. Accessed 4/10/2012 from
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-do-electric-eels-gene “Electric
Eel” Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_eel
“How
Much Electricity Can An Electric Eel Produce?”
Zotz Electrical.
Accessed 4/10/2012 from
http://www.zotzelectrical.com/ElectricEel.htm |
||
Back to Top |
BACK HOME NEXT |