----- Original Message ----- From: "Horace Heffner" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, August 13, 2007 3:59 PM Subject: Re: [Vo]:Re: Only potential differences matter
> > On Aug 13, 2007, at 2:59 AM, Michel Jullian wrote: > >>> Measuring relative surface potentials between two >>> electrodes simply doesn't tell you if there are excess surface >>> electrons on one or both or neither. It still seems pretty obvious >>> to me. >> >> You can say that three times it won't make it true, whatever Lewis >> Carroll says ;-) >> >> Come on, what you describe is a capacitor, there are excess >> electrons on the surface of the most negative electrode facing the >> most positive one, of a very predictable total charge given by: >> >> C*Delta_V = C*(potential of most positive electrode - potential of >> most negative electrode) >> >> Elementary EE stuff. Only potential differences matter I tell you! > > It certainly is all we can *directly measure* with a volt meter. > So... here are a couple questions for you: > > 1. Is it possible to establish a condition where it is certain there > are more negative charges than positive at some point P on a given > plate surface? > > 2. Is it possible to establish a condition where it is certain there > are more positive charges than negative at some point P on a given > plate surface? > > I think it is possible to do both. Of course it is possible! For 1 connect the plate to the most negative pole of a DC power supply, and connect a counterelectrode, e.g. a ball held close to point P, to the most positive pole. For 2 reverse the polarities. > Doing this is necessary to accomplish meaningful experiments relating > to my theory. Indeed. > It also provides an means to establish, with the > necessary degree of precision, a gauge whereby potential measurement > is possible on an absolute basis, and thereby proves it is not true > that only potential differences matter. Nonsense. Michel
