Hi Bill.
I'm prejudiced toward the idea that over millennia some electrons from the Solar Wind,
Solar and Cosmic Rays have been trapped in and on the earth, thus giving rise
to most of the electrostatic phenomena seen throughout the ages.
The triboelectric series squares well with the measured Electron Affinity values
of atoms/molecules and materials.
The natural magnetic sorting action of the earth's magnetic field could allow
accumulation of a negative (electron) charge on the earth.
Atmospheric electricity and the Jets and Sprites tend to bear this out.
BTW. If you want to buy a good Ion Counter,to get some answers, I'll be happy to
contribute $100.00 US toward it's estimated $600.00 price tag.
Is that Utah-Based, Alpha Ion counter on the up and up? http://www.trifield.com/ion_detector.htm
Anyone else want to join in?
Frederick
On Thu, 16 Jun 2005, Bill Beaty wrote:
> On Tue, 14 Jun 2005, Frederick Sparber wrote:
>
>
> > According to this ion counter sales blurb:
> >
> > http://www.trifield.com/air_ions.htm
>
> >
> > Evaporating
> > water will produce - ions in the air and as a consequence leave +
> > charges behind in the water that hasn't yet evaporated.
>
> As I understand it, this is wrong. *SPRAYED* water and water with
> bursting bubbles does produce negative ions. It takes some energy to pull
> ions away from the water surface, and simple evaporation doesn't give
> enough of a KE boost to non-neutral vapor molecules. Instead they fall
> back immediately because of induced opposite charge. I bought a book on
> eBay about this: electrostatic spraying of liquids, A. Bailey
>
> > Also, your breath contains about
> > 20,000 to 50,000 - ions/cm3 from the evaporating wat! er, but you must be
> > grounded to exhale a concentration this high.
>
> Now THAT is an interesting claim! I've been keeping an eye out for any
> evidence that human beings can breathe out charged air.
> >
> > http://www.trifield.com/air_ions.htm
>
> >
> > Evaporating
> > water will produce - ions in the air and as a consequence leave +
> > charges behind in the water that hasn't yet evaporated.
>
> As I understand it, this is wrong. *SPRAYED* water and water with
> bursting bubbles does produce negative ions. It takes some energy to pull
> ions away from the water surface, and simple evaporation doesn't give
> enough of a KE boost to non-neutral vapor molecules. Instead they fall
> back immediately because of induced opposite charge. I bought a book on
> eBay about this: electrostatic spraying of liquids, A. Bailey
>
> > Also, your breath contains about
> > 20,000 to 50,000 - ions/cm3 from the evaporating wat! er, but you must be
> > grounded to exhale a concentration this high.
>
> Now THAT is an interesting claim! I've been keeping an eye out for any
> evidence that human beings can breathe out charged air.
>
> Does anyone on vortex have an ion meter? WHat happens when you breath on
> the probe? Maybe the breath from some of us is neutral, others charged.
> (When I blow on the electrode of the http://amasci.com/chargdet/
> electrometer, it detects no trace of unbalanced charge in the air. But
> maybe I need a steel wool collector electrode.)
>
> Also see:
> Electric People: human lungs as VandeGraaff generators
> Does anyone on vortex have an ion meter? WHat happens when you breath on
> the probe? Maybe the breath from some of us is neutral, others charged.
> (When I blow on the electrode of the http://amasci.com/chargdet/
> electrometer, it detects no trace of unbalanced charge in the air. But
> maybe I need a steel wool collector electrode.)
>
> Also see:
> Electric People: human lungs as VandeGraaff generators
>
> > If you are insulated from
> > ground, you will become more positively charged with each exhalation (by
> > about five volts) because your breath is removing negative charge.
> > Eventually, you will become sufficiently positive (after exhaling about
> > 20 times), that the negative ions will immediately return to you. This
> > is the same effect that occurs in building cooling systems that use an
> > evaporating water tower.
>
> I think these cooling towers use water sprayers or foggers (a known source
> > If you are insulated from
> > ground, you will become more positively charged with each exhalation (by
> > about five volts) because your breath is removing negative charge.
> > Eventually, you will become sufficiently positive (after exhaling about
> > 20 times), that the negative ions will immediately return to you. This
> > is the same effect that occurs in building cooling systems that use an
> > evaporating water tower.
>
> I think these cooling towers use water sprayers or foggers (a known source
> of negative charged droplets.)
>
> > If not properly grounded, the water pump and
> > vents will become very positive. (If the inside vents are isolated from
> the evaporating water via a heat exchanger, the vents may become very
> positive and produce a large number of + ions. This can be corrected
> simply by grounding the vent)."
>
> Frederick
> > vents will become very positive. (If the inside vents are isolated from
> the evaporating water via a heat exchanger, the vents may become very
> positive and produce a large number of + ions. This can be corrected
> simply by grounding the vent)."
>
> Frederick
