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Related Concept Videos

Determining Electric Field From Electric Potential01:12

Determining Electric Field From Electric Potential

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The electric field and electric potential are related to each other. If the electric field at various points in the region of interest is known, it can be used to calculate the electric potential difference between any two points. Similarly, if the electric potential is known for various points, then it is possible to calculate the electric field.
In general, regardless of whether the electric field is uniform, it points in the direction of decreasing potential because the force on a positive...
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Electromagnetic Fields01:30

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Electric fields generated by static charges, often referred to as electrostatic fields, are characteristically different from electric fields created by time-varying magnetic fields. While the former is a conservative field, implying that no net work is done on a test charge if it goes around in a complete loop in the field, the latter is, by definition, not a conservative field; net work is done, and it is proportional to the rate of change of magnetic flux.
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Electric Field Lines01:25

Electric Field Lines

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The three-dimensional representation of the electric field of a positive point charge requires tracing the electric field vectors, whose lengths decrease as the square of their distance from the charge and which point away from the charge at each point. This vector field is no doubt challenging to visualize. The visualization of electric fields becomes quickly intractable as the number of charges increases.
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Electric Field01:16

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Consider two point charges, each exerting Coulomb force on the other. It is possible to describe the Coulomb interaction via an intermediate step by defining a new physical quantity called the electric field.
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Magnetic Field Lines01:19

Magnetic Field Lines

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The representation of magnetic fields by magnetic field lines is very useful in visualizing the strength and direction of the magnetic field. Each of the magnetic field lines forms a closed loop. The field lines emerge from the north pole (N), loop around to the south pole (S), and continue through the bar magnet back to the north pole.
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Finding Electric Potential From Electric Field01:13

Finding Electric Potential From Electric Field

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For a system of charges, it is easy to calculate the system's potential because potential is a scalar quantity. However, in some instances where calculating the electric field is more straightforward than finding the potential, the electric field is used to calculate the system's potential. For a positive charge, the electric field is radially outward, and the potential is positive at any finite distance from the positive charge. In such an electric field, the motion away from the...
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Determining Electric Fields in Thunderclouds With the Radiotelescope LOFAR.

T N G Trinh1,2, O Scholten2,3, S Buitink4,5

  • 1Department of Physics, School of Education Can Tho University Campus II Can Tho Vietnam.

Journal of Geophysical Research. Atmospheres : JGR
|July 28, 2020
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Summary

Researchers mapped thundercloud electric fields using cosmic rays. They found a main negative charge layer near -10°C, with strong horizontal fields, regardless of lightning activity.

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Area of Science:

  • Atmospheric Physics
  • Electromagnetism
  • Cosmic Ray Physics

Background:

  • Thunderclouds generate powerful electric fields crucial for lightning.
  • Direct measurement of these fields within clouds is challenging.
  • Cosmic ray extensive air showers offer a novel probing method.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze electric fields within thunderclouds using cosmic ray extensive air showers.
  • To reconstruct the vertical and horizontal components of electric fields.
  • To investigate the spatial distribution of charge layers in different seasons.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized radio emission from extensive air shower (EAS) events during thunderstorms.
  • Applied an improved fitting procedure for data analysis.
  • Reconstructed electric field components using cosmic rays as probes (thundercloud tomography).

Main Results:

  • Identified the main negative charge layer near the -10°C isotherm in both winter and summer clouds.
  • Observed strong horizontal electric field components exceeding 70 kV/m in middle and upper cloud layers.
  • Detected significant electric fields even in the absence of detectable lightning.
  • Determined cloud top heights: 5-6 km for winter, 9 km for summer.

Conclusions:

  • Cosmic ray tomography is effective for studying thundercloud electric fields.
  • The -10°C isotherm is a consistent location for the primary negative charge layer.
  • Significant electric fields exist in thunderclouds independent of immediate lightning discharge.