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The top of the atmosphere is at about 44...

The top of the atmosphere is at about 440 kV with respect to the surface of the earth, corresponding to an electric field that decreases with altitude. Near the surface of the earth the field is about `100 V cdot m^(-1)`. Why then we do not get an electric shock as we step out of our house into the open? (Assume the house to be a still cage so there is no field inside.)

Text Solution

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Actually, our body as well as earth are a conductor. As soon as our body and ground come in contact they form an equipotential surface. In open air, equipotential surfaces are parallel to the surface of ground. As we step out of the house into open air, the shape of the equipotential surfaces in open air get distorted, so that our head and the ground are at the same electric potential. Thus, we do not get any electric shock.
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Explore conceptually related problems

The top of the atmosphere is at about 400 kV with respect to the surface of the earth, corresponding to an electric field that decreases with altitude. Near the surface of the earth, the field is about 100 V m^(-7) . Why then do we not get an electric shock as we step out of our house into the open ? (Assume the house to be a steel cage so there is no field inside)

Answer the following: (a) The top of the atmosphere is at about 400 kV with respect to the surface of the earth, corresponding to an electric field that decreases with altitude. Near the surface of the earth, the field is about 100 Vm^(-1) . Why then do we not get an electric shock as we step out of our house into the open? (Assume the house to be a steel cage so there is no field inside!) (b) A man fixes outside his house one evening a two metre high insulating slab carrying on its top a large aluminium sheet of area 1m^(2) . Will he get an electric shock if he touches the metal sheet next morning? (c) The discharging current in the atmosphere due to the small conductivity of air is known to be 1800 A on an average over the globe. Why then does the atmosphere not discharge itself completely in due course and become electrically neutral? In other words, what keeps the atmosphere charged? (d) What are the forms of energy into which the electrical energy of the atmosphere is dissipated during a lightning? (Hint: The earth has an electric field of about 100 Vm^(-1) at its surface in the downward direction, corresponding to a surface charge density = 10^(-9)C m^(-2) . Due to the slight conductivity of the atmosphere up to about 50 km (beyond which it is good conductor), about + 1800 C is pumped every second into the earth as a whole. The earth, however, does not get discharged since thunderstorms and lightning occurring continually all over the globe pump an equal amount of negative charge on the earth.)

Knowledge Check

  • the top of the atmosphere is about 400kv with respect to the surface of the earth corresponding to an electric field that decreases with altitude near the surface of the earth the field is about 100Vm^-1 still we do not get an electric shock as we step out of our house into the open house because (assume the house to be a steel cage so that there is no field inside)

    A
    there is a potential difference between our body and the ground
    B
    `100 Vm^-1` is not a high electric field so that we do not feel the shock
    C
    our body and the ground forms an equipotential surface
    D
    the dry atmosphere is not a conductor

  • the top of the atmosphere is about 400kv with respect to the surface of the earth corresponding to an electric field that decreases with altitude near the surface of the earth the field is about 100Vm^-1 still we do not get an electric shock as we step out of our house into the open house because (assume the house to be a steel cage so that there is no field inside)

    A
    there is a potential difference between our body and the ground
    B
    `100 Vm^-1` is not a high electric field so that we do not feel the shock
    C
    our body and the ground forms an equipotential surface
    D
    the dry atmosphere is not a conductor

  • The top of the atomosphere is about 400 kV with respect to the surface of earth, corresponding to an electric field that decreases with altitude. Near the surface of earth the field is about 100 V m^(-1), but still don't get an electric shock, as we set out of out houses in to open because (assume the house is free from electric field)

    A
    our body is a perfect insulator
    B
    our body and ground form an equipotential surface
    C
    the original equipotential surfaces of open air remain same
    D
    none of these

    • Similar Questions

    Explore conceptually related problems

    Answer the following : (a) The top fo the atmosphere is at about 400 kv with respect to the surface of earth, the field is about 100 Vm^(-1) . Why then do we not get an electric shock, as we step out of out house into the open ? (Assume the house to be a steel cage so that there is no field inside). (b) A man fixes outside his house one evening a two meter high insulating slab carrying on its top, a large aluminium sheet of area 1 m^(2) . Will he get an electric shock if he touches the metal sheet next morning ? (c) The discharging current in the atmosphere due to the small conducity of air is known to be 1800 A on an average over the globe. Why then does the atomsphere not discharge itself complety in due course and become electrically neutral ? In other words, what keeps the atmosphere charged ? (d) What are teh forms of energy into which the electrical energy fo the atmosphere is dissipated during a lighting ?

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