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The earth’ssurface has a negative surface charge density of 10−9C m−2. The potential difference of 400 kV betweenthe top of the atmosphere and the surface results (due to the lowconductivity of the lower atmosphere) in a current of only 1800 Aover the entire globe. If there were no mechanism of sustainingatmospheric electric field, how much time (roughly) would be requiredto neutralise the earth’s surface? (This never happens inpractice because there is a mechanism to replenish electric charges,namely the continual thunderstorms and lightning in different partsof the globe). (Radius of earth = 6.37 × 106m.) |
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Answer» The earth’s |
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