Metal Wire Suspended in an electric field, any current produced?

AI Thread Summary
Suspending a low resistance wire vertically in the atmosphere, where there is a voltage gradient of 100 V/m, could potentially produce a current. The differing electric charges at each end of the wire may create a flow of electric current due to the established voltage difference. However, the actual current produced would depend on various factors, including the wire's resistance and the strength of the electric field. The concept suggests that the wire could act as a conductor between regions of different charge. Overall, this setup highlights the relationship between electric fields and current flow in conductive materials.
jxh022
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I've read that the atmosphere has a gradient of 100 V/m as altitude increases. My question is, if I suspend a low resistance wire vertically so that each end of the wire resides in a differently charged region of the atmosphere, would a current be produced in this wire?
 
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jxh022 said:
I've read that the atmosphere has a gradient of 100 V/m as altitude increases. My question is, if I suspend a low resistance wire vertically so that each end of the wire resides in a differently charged region of the atmosphere, would a current be produced in this wire?
The different electric charge means there will flow electric current through a wire which short circuit the difference.

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