In reply to H Veeder's message of Wed, 12 Mar 2014 17:16:06 -0400: Hi Harry, [snip] >> When grains made of long chain molecules rub against one another molecules >> can >> be broken (this should happen with some plastics too). When a molecule >> breaks, >> it can either form two neutral molecules, or a pair of ions. The latter >> constitute opposing charges on two separate grains (each gets part of the >> original molecule). Breaking into two charged ions may be more likely in >> molecules containing atoms such as Oxygen which tend to hold onto excess >> electrons, thus retaining a negative charge. >> Regards, >> >> Robin van Spaandonk >> >> http://rvanspaa.freehostia.com/project.html >> >> > >Here is another story about the same research. Apparently they detected >the same effect with "glass particles". >http://www.livescience.com/43686-earthquake-lights-possible-cause.html > >If ions are formed in the way you describe wouldn't these microscopic >charge differences >tend to cancel out at the macroscopic level? > >Harry
Yes, I would think so. That's the flaw in my theory. When two different substances rub together, one will probably have a greater electron affinity than the other, which would explain bulk polarization of charge, however the same can't be said for a single substance. I guess that's why they are so puzzled. Now I am too. :) Regards, Robin van Spaandonk http://rvanspaa.freehostia.com/project.html
