Electric capacitance adding charged particals, rate

In summary, the question asks for the calculation of the electric capacitance of the Earth and the electric current carried to the Earth by positively charged cosmic ray particles. The capacitance of the Earth is found to be 709.53 mF using the formula C=4*(pi)*ε*R. For part (b), the question involves the rate at which the electrostatic potential of the Earth would rise if there were no other charge movements to or from the Earth. It is mentioned that the potential of the Earth can be calculated using V = Q/(4*pi*ε*R) and the total charge on the Earth at a given time can be used to find the rate of change of potential with respect to time.
  • #1
cheff3r
25
0
Okay so the question is

15. (a) Calculate the electric capacitance of the Earth.
(b) Positively charged cosmic ray particles are known to arrive at Earth at the rate of
approximately 1 particle per square centimetre per second. If each particle is
assumed to be singly charged, calculate:-
(i) the electric current carried to the Earth by these particles;
(ii) the rate at which the electrostatic potential of the Earth would rise if there
were no other charge movements to or from the Earth.

my solution
a) knowing Earth's radius of 6380km
C=4*(pi)*ε*R
=4*3.141*8.85*10^-12*6380*10^3
=709.53 mF

b) my problem with b is up until now the queestions not involving flow of charge, so here's my guess its something to do with divergence (we slightly touched on the topic in class) on the other hand doesn't it take more energy everytime charge is added to a capacitor so wouldn't that mean it is dependent on time?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
(b.i) Current is measured in Amperes. 1 Ampere = 1 Coulomb/second. How many Coulombs/second total reach the Earth's surface?

(b.ii) You know from part (a) that the potential of the Earth is
[tex]V = \frac{Q}{4\pi\epsilon_{0}R}[/tex]
where Q s the total charge on the Earth at a given time. Can you find an expression for [tex]\frac{dV}{dt} ?[/tex]
 

FAQ: Electric capacitance adding charged particals, rate

What is electric capacitance?

Electric capacitance is the ability of a system to store an electric charge. It is measured in farads (F) and is determined by the geometry and materials of the system.

How does adding charged particles affect capacitance?

Adding charged particles to a system increases the electric field and therefore increases the capacitance. This is because the charged particles create a larger potential difference between the two plates of a capacitor.

How do you calculate the rate of capacitance?

The rate of capacitance is calculated by dividing the change in charge on one plate by the change in potential difference between the two plates.

How does the material of a system affect capacitance?

The material of a system can affect capacitance by influencing the dielectric constant, which is a measure of the ability of a material to store electrical energy. A higher dielectric constant means a higher capacitance.

What are some real-life applications of capacitance and charged particles?

Capacitance and charged particles are used in many electronic devices, such as capacitors, batteries, and sensors. They are also essential in power transmission and distribution systems, as well as in medical equipment like pacemakers and defibrillators.

Similar threads

Back
Top