Franklin Bell: Does Positive/Negative Side Matter?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the behavior of a homemade Franklin bell charged with an electric fly swatter. Participants explore whether the neutral ball at the center of the bell has a preference for being attracted to the positive or negative side first. It is concluded that the initial direction of attraction is influenced by the proximity of the charged sides, as the forces involved are inversely proportional to the square of the distance. The consensus is that the ball's neutrality is not absolute, and any slight inequality in distance will dictate its initial movement.

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  • Familiarity with the principles of force and distance in physics
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  • Basic concepts of electric fields and their effects on neutral objects
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Physics enthusiasts, educators, and hobbyists interested in electrostatics and the practical applications of Franklin bells will benefit from this discussion.

fishspawned
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hello all

so i have been messing about with a homemade franklin bell. It is being charged with an electric fly swatter.

I have been wondering if the neutral ball a the center should have any preference as to which side it would be attracted to FIRST. In my head i think it should not matter, and really be a question of which one is closer, even if by a very small amount. considering the forces created are related to the reciprocal of the distance squared - a small difference would change the net force on that ball quite a bit to be pointing in one direction over the other.

but i just wanted to know if there would be reason it may go towards a positive or negative side first for any other reason someone else may know about.

thanks
 
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The ball will neither be exactly neutral nor exactly central. It's the inequality that determines which way it will go initially, I think.
 
yup - that's what i thought. good point on the assumed neutrality of the ball too.
 
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