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Can someone help me with philosophical physics questions?
Why is the earth positively charged? Where do the electrons in lighting come from? If they come from the water, how do they re-obtain these electrons?
3 Answers
- Frank NLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
Earth is very very close to electrically neutral. Most metals are good electrical conductors because their outer valence electrons have very high mobility. They can easily move from one atom to the next to the next. You can think of an electrical circuit as an ornamental fountain. Water is falling from the fountain into its pool all day. But a pump is just moving that same water in a loop.
- Randy PLv 71 decade ago
The earth is usually considered to be uncharged.
Electrons in an electrical circuit are already present. The voltage from the power company is being used to push them back and forth in the circuit and do work. If your circuit includes ground (the earth) then some of your electrons are being sent into the earth, and replacement electrons are being pulled out of the earth.
In conductors, a certain number of electrons are free to move, not bound to atoms.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
because god said so....
