by Maol » Thu Dec 28, 2023 4:41 pm
Electricity in the Atmosphere
9–1The electric potential gradient of the atmosphere
https://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/II_09.html
On an ordinary day over flat desert country, or over the sea, as one goes upward from the surface of the ground the electric potential increases by about 100 volts per meter. Thus there is a vertical electric field E of 100 volts/m in the air. The sign of the field corresponds to a negative charge on the earth’s surface. This means that outdoors the potential at the height of your nose is 200 volts higher than the potential at your feet! You might ask: “Why don’t we just stick a pair of electrodes out in the air one meter apart and use the 100 volts to power our electric lights?” Or you might wonder: “If there is really a potential difference of 200 volts between my nose and my feet, why is it I don’t get a shock when I go out into the street?”
We will answer the second question first........ click the link above ^^
This the link to the whole series of Feynman's lectures.
https://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/Electricity in the Atmosphere
9–1The electric potential gradient of the atmosphere
https://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/II_09.html
On an ordinary day over flat desert country, or over the sea, as one goes upward from the surface of the ground the electric potential increases by about 100 volts per meter. Thus there is a vertical electric field E of 100 volts/m in the air. The sign of the field corresponds to a negative charge on the earth’s surface. This means that outdoors the potential at the height of your nose is 200 volts higher than the potential at your feet! You might ask: “Why don’t we just stick a pair of electrodes out in the air one meter apart and use the 100 volts to power our electric lights?” Or you might wonder: “If there is really a potential difference of 200 volts between my nose and my feet, why is it I don’t get a shock when I go out into the street?”
We will answer the second question first........ click the link above ^^
This the link to the whole series of Feynman's lectures.
https://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/