- #1
EmilyBergendahl
- 32
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Homework Statement
During a thunder storm, movement of water molecules within clouds creates friction which causes the bottom of the clouds to become negatively charged. This means that the bottom of the cloud and the ground begin to act like parallel plates. Once the electric field between the clouds and the ground becomes larger than 3.0 x 10^6 N/C, lightning will strike.
a. If the bottom of the cloud is 150 m above the ground, determine the electric potential difference between the ground and the cloud.
b. Say 6.24 x 10^18 electrons move between the ground and the cloud during a lightning strike. How much electric potential energy does this represent? Are the electrons gaining or losing energy?
Homework Equations
E = V/d
q = Ne
V = E_E/q
The Attempt at a Solution
a.
E = V/d
V = Ed
V = (3.0 x 10^6 N/C)(150 m)
V = 4.5 x 10^8 V
b.
q = Ne
q = (6.24 x 10^18)(-1.6 x 10^19)
q = -0.9984 C
q = -1.0 C
V = E_E/q
E_E = Vq
E_E = (4.5 x 10^8 V)(-1.0 C)
E_E = -4.5 x 10^8 J
How can I tell if the electrons are gaining or losing energy?