Yer that was a tough one. I saved it for last actually.
I basically started by saying, to understand action potential. We must understand resting potential.
I spoke briefly about it. Basically, resting is when there is no pulse going through the nerve cell. The neurone is kept at a negative charge. This is done by the sodium pumps and Na ATPase, which pumps out Na ions outside cell. Potassium leak channels add the negativity which is around - 70mV.
So basically, action potential. I then went into it. When an impulse is passed either from a receptor (e.g mechanoreceptor ((cannot use example of a photoreceptor as they produce a generator potential which is different to action potential. Action is all or nothing, Generator is in ratio to stimulus) or the terminal branches from another axon, a pulse stimulates the neurone. If the stimulus depolarises the cell to around -35mV which is the threshold, the voltage gates (both the sodium and potassium gates) open and the built up Na ions outside cell rush in. Due to the fact it is an all or nothing response if this depolarisation does not reach the -35mV thresold and action potential does not occur.
Thus, this is reason why. I also spoke up mechnoreceptors being branched convergently ensuring the threshold is met even though the stimulus is smaller then the threshold.