- #1
kihr
- 102
- 0
If we apply the formula for the capacitance of a sphere (C= 4PEr, where P=pi, E= permittivity of free space, and R= radius of the earth), and apply the values we get a value of around 700 microfarad. If we now work out the potential on the surface of the Earth (V=q/c) we get a fairly high value for even small values of q. Given these figures, why is it that the electric potential of the Earth is taken as zero?