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gandharva_23
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we take the potentisl of the Earth to be equal to zero for solving some problems though the potential of Earth is not equal to zero . why is that ? or when can we do that ?
The Electrostatics earth problem is a theoretical problem in physics that deals with the electric field and potential of a charged object near the surface of the earth. It is often used as an example in electrostatics to demonstrate the concept of equipotential surfaces and the effect of the earth's electric field on charged objects.
The earth's electric field plays a crucial role in the "Electrostatics earth problem" because it is the main factor that determines the potential of a charged object near the earth's surface. The electric field of the earth is caused by the separation of positive and negative charges in the atmosphere and is responsible for the flow of electric current in the atmosphere.
An equipotential surface is a surface in which all points have the same electric potential. In the "Electrostatics earth problem", the equipotential surfaces are parallel to the surface of the earth and are used to represent the electric potential of a charged object near the earth's surface.
The electric potential near the surface of the earth decreases as the distance from the surface increases. This is because the electric field of the earth weakens with distance and the potential difference between two points is directly proportional to the strength of the electric field.
The "Electrostatics earth problem" is closely related to lightning strikes as it helps explain the process of how lightning is formed. When a storm cloud is charged, it creates an electric field that induces a charge on the earth's surface. This causes a potential difference between the cloud and the earth, resulting in a lightning strike to equalize the charges.