Can Static Electricity Penetrate a Faraday Cage?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the question of whether static electricity can penetrate a Faraday cage, with a specific reference to phenomena such as ball lightning observed in aircraft. The scope includes conceptual exploration and technical reasoning related to electromagnetic fields and their interaction with Faraday cages.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions if static electricity can penetrate a Faraday cage, linking it to observations of ball lightning in aircraft.
  • Another participant asserts that a Faraday cage blocks all electromagnetic fields, implying that static electricity cannot penetrate.
  • A different viewpoint suggests that while external static fields cannot penetrate, static fields can be generated from within the cage, indicating a conditional understanding of the situation.
  • A participant reiterates the initial question and introduces a model related to static charge entering a Faraday cage through an opening, referencing an external resource for further exploration.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the ability of static electricity to penetrate a Faraday cage, with no consensus reached on the matter.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully explored the implications of static fields generated inside the cage versus external penetration, and the discussion lacks clarity on specific conditions or definitions related to static electricity and Faraday cages.

wolram
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please forgive a not very scientific question, i am wondered if static electricity can penetrate a faraday cage, this has to do with ball lightning being seen in an aircraft.
 
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Nooooo... a Faraday cage blocks out all electromagnetic fields.
 
Unless you mean if static fields can be generated from the inside of the cage, the yes, you can.
 
wolram said:
please forgive a not very scientific question, i am wondered if static electricity can penetrate a faraday cage, this has to do with ball lightning being seen in an aircraft.

I've heard of ball lightning passing through the front windows of aircraft into the interior.
Try this for a model of static charge entering into an opening of a Faraday cage:
http://webphysics.davidson.edu/Applets/Poisson/Faraday.html
 

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