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The earth’s surface has a negative surface charge density of 10–9 Cm–2. The potential difference of 400 kV between the top of theatmosphere and the surface results (due to the low conductivity ofthe lower atmosphere) in a current of only 1800 A over the entireglobe. If there were no mechanism of sustaining atmospheric electric field, how much time (roughly) would be required to neutralise theearth’s surface? (This never happens in practice because there is amechanism to replenish electric charges, namely the continualthunderstorms and lightning in different parts of the globe). (Radiusof earth = 6.37 × 106 m.)

Answer» The earth’s surface has a negative surface charge density of 10–9 Cm–2. The potential difference of 400 kV between the top of theatmosphere and the surface results (due to the low conductivity ofthe lower atmosphere) in a current of only 1800 A over the entireglobe. If there were no mechanism of sustaining atmospheric electric field, how much time (roughly) would be required to neutralise theearth’s surface? (This never happens in practice because there is amechanism to replenish electric charges, namely the continualthunderstorms and lightning in different parts of the globe). (Radiusof earth = 6.37 × 106 m.)


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