Why electric charge is attracted to the earth (ground) ?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the reasons why electric charge is attracted to the Earth (ground), exploring concepts related to charge density, conductivity, and potential difference. The scope includes theoretical explanations and analogies related to electrical behavior.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that the low charge-density of the Earth causes charge to flow from regions of high charge-density to low charge-density, drawing an analogy to air pressure.
  • Another participant states that excess charge is attracted to any conductor, implying that if the Earth were a good insulator, it would not attract charge.
  • This participant also notes that excess charge will flow onto an object until a potential difference builds up, comparing it to pumping air into a tank, where the flow stops once pressure rises significantly.
  • They further argue that because the Earth is very large, it can accept a significant amount of charge without a noticeable increase in electrical potential.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present multiple viewpoints regarding the attraction of electric charge to the Earth, with no consensus reached on a singular explanation. The discussion reflects differing perspectives on the roles of charge density, conductivity, and potential difference.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the nature of charge flow and the properties of the Earth as a conductor versus an insulator are not fully explored, leaving room for further clarification.

username
Messages
225
Reaction score
2
Anybody know why electric charge is attracted to the Earth (ground) ?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Because the charge-density of the Earth is very low and charge flows from regions with a high charge-density to regions with a low one. Just compare it to air-pressure.
 
Originally posted by username
Anybody know why electric charge is attracted to the Earth (ground) ?

Two answers:

1. Excess charge is always attracted to any conductor. If the Earth in your area was a good insulator, it would NOT attract charge.

2. Excess charge will only flow onto an object until a potential difference builds up and halts the flow. It's vaguely like pumping air into a tank: eventually the pressure will rise and stall the pump. If the object in question is REALLY LARGE, how much charge do you have to pump onto it before the electrical potential rises significantly? Lots and lots. You can dump huge amounts of charge into the earth, yet it still behaves as if it's uncharged.
 
Thanks for the explanation and clearing that up.
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Potential difference between a battery's terminal and Earth ground
  • · Replies 58 ·
2
Replies
58
Views
6K
High School Thought Experiment on Charge Carriers and Electrical Conduction
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
Undergrad Trying to better understand the physics of electrical earth ground
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
4K
High School Definition of ground potential in infinite sheet charge distributions
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
3K
Undergrad Why Does Grounding Imply Zero Electric Potential in the Method of Images?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
High School Can charges move without a field? How charges redistribute without it?
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K
Undergrad Electrical breakdown in air in the presence of a single charge
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
High School Understanding the electric field
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K
High School Can I use this method to charge a metal sphere?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
High School Electric Fields inside Conductors & Gauss' Law
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K