why and how does the blowing snow charge the fences?
Blowing snow can charge fences due to a phenomenon called triboelectric charging. Triboelectric charging occurs when two materials come into contact and then separate, resulting in an exchange or transfer of electrons between them.
When blowing snow particles come in contact with a fence, friction is created between the snow particles and the fence material. This friction causes an exchange of electrons between the two materials, resulting in a buildup of electrical charge on both the snow particles and the fence.
The charging of the fence by blowing snow can happen in a few ways. One possibility is that the friction between the snow particles and the fence can cause the fence to lose electrons, making it positively charged. Alternatively, the snow particles can gain electrons during the friction process, making them negatively charged, and leaving the fence positively charged. The exact charge distribution depends on the specific materials involved and the conditions of the contact.
To visualize this process, imagine rubbing a balloon against your hair. The rubbing generates friction, causing electrons to move from your hair to the balloon. As a result, the balloon becomes negatively charged, and when you bring it close to a wall, it may stick to it due to the attraction between the balloon's negative charge and the wall's positive charge.
So, blowing snow charges fences through the friction between the snow particles and the fence material, leading to an exchange of electrons and the buildup of electrical charge.