Where does the charge on tankers come from?

  • Thread starter Thread starter pixel01
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Charged
AI Thread Summary
Static electricity on tankers primarily originates from the interaction between the tires and the road surface, as well as the air moving over the truck's body. The discussion highlights that while both factors contribute to charge generation, the tires may account for a significant portion, potentially up to 99%. However, the role of moving air is also crucial, particularly in different contexts like airplanes, where static charge is mainly due to dry air friction. The conversation suggests that the accumulation of charge in trucks is complex and influenced by various factors, including humidity and temperature. Ultimately, the exact dominance of tires versus air in generating static charge remains uncertain.
pixel01
Messages
688
Reaction score
1
As you know some trucks (tankers) always have a chain or wire underneath to discharge electricity. My question is where has the charge come from?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Static electricity is generated by the tires and the air moving over the surface of the trucks body and tank.
 
PaulS1950 said:
Static electricity is generated by the tires and the air moving over the surface of the trucks body and tank.

Thanks,
So what dominates the charge: the tires or the moving air?
I myself sometimes create sparks when touching the door knob. Quite strong. No air moving, so maybe it's only the tires?
 
The amount of charge of the air depends on the velocity, temperature and humidity and the amount of charge developed by the tires depends on the materials involved. (the composition of the tires and road surface.
 
PaulS1950 said:
The amount of charge of the air depends on the velocity, temperature and humidity and the amount of charge developed by the tires depends on the materials involved. (the composition of the tires and road surface.

But we don't know what is the dominant. Possibly that the tires can make up 99% of the charge, and we can neglect the air. Say, the airplane, it fly very fast and I do not know if if has problem with charge caused by the moving air.
 
pixel01 said:
But we don't know what is the dominant. Possibly that the tires can make up 99% of the charge, and we can neglect the air. Say, the airplane, it fly very fast and I do not know if if has problem with charge caused by the moving air.
Google on airplane static discharge. It's not the tires that is dominant in accumulating charge in airplanes.
 
turbo-1 said:
Google on airplane static discharge. It's not the tires that is dominant in accumulating charge in airplanes.

Sure that the tires do not dominate the charge in airplanes. They taxi very slowly and just some km on runway.
 
I would start with Van de Graaff Generators, and work up to trucks. The principle is the same, and while the tires carry some charge, it's hardly a belt with combs. Imagine a volcanic eruption of a stratovolcano: The small particles cause large charges to build in the plume, hence SERIOUS air-air lightning.

Consider the road vs. dry cool air, striking the (essentually) hollow metal box, that is most of a truck: that is a LOT of charge being exchanged, compared to rotating tires which would tend to discharge on their own more than simply carry the charge to the truck's body.

EDIT: Hmmmm... then again, truck tired are steel belted... I wonder what effect that has. Can the tires act a bit like capacitors? Even then collision with air and dust (pollen, etc) would be a greater factor.
 
pixel01 said:
Sure that the tires do not dominate the charge in airplanes. They taxi very slowly and just some km on runway.
No. The primary cause is static charge resulting from the dry air rubbing on the skin of the airplane. Did you google on "airplane static discharge"? It would help settle the needless speculation.
 
  • #10
turbo-1 said:
No. The primary cause is static charge resulting from the dry air rubbing on the skin of the airplane. Did you google on "airplane static discharge"? It would help settle the needless speculation.

I have not googled, but the 2 cases are quite different. Airplanes fly very fast, the friction caused by moving air is big. But the truck moves much slower and the tires always have friction with the surface of the road. My speculation is about the truck.
 
  • #11
pixel01 said:
I have not googled, but the 2 cases are quite different. Airplanes fly very fast, the friction caused by moving air is big. But the truck moves much slower and the tires always have friction with the surface of the road.

*Faceplam*
 
  • #12
Frame Dragger said:
*Faceplam*

?

I guess you all have experienced electric shocks (sometimes, not gentle) while walking in a supermarket and unattentively touch the trolley or somethings. That's all for friction of the shoes and the floor, not the air moving.
So in the case of trucks, I am not sure if the tires are the dominant or just moving air.
I thought it's only because of the air.
 

Similar threads

I E-field around charged finite wire - intractable or not?
Replies
10
Views
964
I Capacitor surface charge movement current, relativistic effects
Replies
2
Views
1K
I Charging a small metal ball from a charged hollow sphere
Replies
4
Views
1K
B How is surface charge accumulated?
Replies
36
Views
6K
Some questions about capacitor discharging
Replies
7
Views
2K
I Does path independence still hold if permittivity is non-uniform?
Replies
18
Views
2K
I Do Electric field lines propagate by themselves away from a charge?
2
Replies
73
Views
5K
I Magnetic field as result of length contraction
Replies
20
Views
4K
What do we mean by the charge on a body is denoted by "q"?
Replies
36
Views
4K
Does potential drop when a charge flows through a wire w/ 0 resistance?
Replies
7
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top