On 4/6/2007 3:45 AM, Michel Jullian wrote:
> Once they have given up their excess electron(s) to the front surface of the > ball, they become neutrals so they go with the wind their former colleagues > behind are still entraining, around the ball and beyond. > > Now one might ask, what's special with the front of the ball? Shouldn't the > ions be attracted to the nearest part of the ball i.e. hit it radially on > average, in which case there would be no thrust? My guess is that this is > because this is the part with the best conduction path to the +ve HV rotor > tips, either by direct contact or by internal corona discharge. > > Michel If that is the case then one would expect a particular position of the tip relative to the interior surface of the ping pong ball will maximize the thrust. Harry
