Table 1 Comparison of living cells to electrets, electrostatic machines, permanent and electromagnets
Comparison of field features | Magnet and electromagnets | Electret and electrostatic machines | Living cells |
|---|---|---|---|
Stable field maintained without loss of energy | Only in permanent magnets | In electrets due to static bound charges | pH dependent cell protein bound charges |
Energy dependent field | Moving electric charges in electromagnets produce magnetic field | In various electrostatic machines temporary electrostatic potentials can be accumulated and discharged | Membrane layered charges depends on ion permeability and ion pumping |
Rapid inversion of polarity or rapid depolarization and repolarization | In electromagnets on pulsating or on alternative current | Not easily achieved in electrostatic machines | Electric field is temporary lost and reestablished during action potential |
Dipole polarity | Obligatory, there is no magnetic monopole | Usually a dipole configuration that can be reduced to one charge by adequate grounding of one pole | Pericellular electric field is positive or negative, only dipole polarization happens during partial depolarization of excitable cells |