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    sGt HarDKorE's Avatar
    sGt HarDKorE Posts: 656, Reputation: 98
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    #1

    Sep 9, 2010, 05:20 PM
    Are soil particles more positively charged or more negatively charged?
    I am having a difficult time answering this question. On one hand, I know that it can be pos or negative. On the otherhand I read that it has only been measured as negative. So would that mean its more negatively charged?
    HelpinHere's Avatar
    HelpinHere Posts: 1,062, Reputation: 144
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    #2

    Sep 9, 2010, 05:24 PM
    Here's a fun experiment.
    Get a large magnet and run it over some soil. If more particles attach themselves to the positive side, you have a greater negative charge, and vice versa.
    Unknown008's Avatar
    Unknown008 Posts: 8,076, Reputation: 723
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    #3

    Sep 10, 2010, 11:35 AM

    In physics, we consider 'Earth' as being at zero potential, that is at zero volts, which is also, at neutral charge.

    Current is caused by a flow of electrons, which are negatively charged.

    When you touch a live appliance, electrons flow from the appliance, through your body, into the earth. So, negatively charged particles will flow from a more negative terminal to a more positive terminal. From this, we assume that the Earth is positively charged.

    But if it's the other way round, that is, if you touch a positively charged sphere, electrons will flow from the earth, through your body to the charged sphere. Hence, earth must be more negative than the sphere...

    So, physicists consider the earth/soil as being neutral.

    In cases of thunderstorms, the soil can become temporarily negative, when lightning strikes the ground, but this is quickly neutralised as the charges spread over large areas.


    Something else you might consider... If soil particles are all negatively charged, that would mean that they repel each other... the same applies if they are all positively charged... and they cannot be oppositely charged as in the end, they'll end up neutralising themselves...

    I hope it helped! :)

    Note, I think this thread would be better in the physics section.
    ebaines's Avatar
    ebaines Posts: 12,131, Reputation: 1307
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    #4

    Sep 10, 2010, 01:59 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by HelpinHere View Post
    Here's a fun experiment.
    Get a large magnet and run it over some soil. If more particles attach themselves to the positive side, you have a greater negative charge, and vice versa.
    I must disagee with this. A particle's electric charge has nothing to do with whether it's attracted to a north or south pole of a magnet. In fact, if you can find a particle that is more attracted to one side of magnet than the other you will win the Noble prize for having discovered a monopole!

    But what might work as an experiment is this - use a felt cloth to rub the surface of a balloon, thereby through satic electricity creating a positive electric charge on one an a negative charge on the other. Then see whether dirt particles are more attracted to one or the other. I bet what you find is that on average soil particles are neutral.
    sGt HarDKorE's Avatar
    sGt HarDKorE Posts: 656, Reputation: 98
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    #5

    Sep 10, 2010, 02:01 PM
    Thanks everyone for responding, but I don't understand what is with everyone giving out labs. I was correct in that soil particles are more negative, thanks to my professors.
    Unknown008's Avatar
    Unknown008 Posts: 8,076, Reputation: 723
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    #6

    Sep 11, 2010, 12:16 AM

    You know, you learn better when you try things by yourself and get to your own conclusions. That's what the deal about the lab. This is one of the few places where you SEE things happen in front of you.

    Now, what proof does your professor has that soil particles are negatively charged? Do they repel each other like I suggested earlier? If no, why would negatively charged particles not repel each other?

    You just swallowed the answer your professor gave you, one single person, while two different persons here with different views already told you that soil particles are neutral.

    I'm sorry to tell you this, but if you are planning to become a scientist, you should carry out your own experiment and come to your own conclusions and not agree with everything you hear or see.

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