How Does Passing a Charged Insulator Above a Flame Cause It to Discharge?

[kindlychung]

Homework Statement

A charged insulator can be discharged by passing it just above a flame, how?

Homework Equations

No.

The Attempt at a Solution

There must be some charge transferred between the charged insulator and the environment.
Suppose the insulator was negatively charged, then by passing it above the flame, some electrons must be removed from the insulator, if on the other hand the insulator was positively charged, then by passing it above the flame, some electrons must be added to the insulator.

What is a flame anyway? Is it capable of conducting electricity? Or could it ionize the adjacent air so that the air turns into a conductor?

 

[jbsteele]

A flame is a mixture of hot gases and particles formed when combustible material is exposed to extreme heat. The heat of the flame produces some electrical activity, and the ionized gas created by the flame can act as a conductor allowing electrons to move from one object to another, thus discharging the insulator.