During an electrical storm, clouds can build up very large amounts of charge, and this charge can induce charges on the earth's surface. Sketch the distribution of charges at the earth's surface in the vicinity of a cloud if the cloud is positively charged and the earth behaves like a conductor.

Question

During an electrical storm, clouds can build up very large amounts of charge, and this charge can induce charges on the earth's surface. Sketch the distribution of charges at the earth's surface in the vicinity of a cloud if the cloud is positively charged and the earth behaves like a conductor.

Answer 1

To sketch the distribution of charges at the earth's surface in the vicinity of a positively charged cloud during an electrical storm, we need to understand a bit about the behavior of charges in conductors.

In a conductor, charges are free to move around. When a positively charged cloud approaches the earth's surface, it induces a redistribution of charges on the earth's surface. Since the cloud is positively charged, it will repel positive charges and attract negative charges.

Here's how we can sketch the distribution of charges at the earth's surface:

1. Start by imagining a cloud above the earth's surface that is positively charged. We'll consider a point directly below the cloud on the earth's surface.

2. Due to the attractive force between the positive cloud and negative charges in the earth, negative charges from the earth's surface will be drawn upward towards the cloud directly above the point below.

3. This movement of negative charges toward the sky leaves a positive charge behind on the earth's surface at the point below the cloud.

4. As we move away from the point below the cloud, the positive charge density decreases, and the negative charge density increases, creating a gradient of charges.

5. Ultimately, the distribution of charges would be such that closer to the cloud the charges are more positive, and further away from the cloud the charges are more negative.

Remember that this distribution of charges is a simplification of a complex phenomenon. The actual distribution may vary due to factors like the shape, size, and position of the cloud, as well as other environmental conditions. This sketch provides a basic understanding of how charges are redistributed in the vicinity of a positively charged cloud during an electrical storm.