Chronology Current Month Current Thread Current Date
[Year List] [Month List (current year)] [Date Index] [Thread Index] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Prev] [Date Next]

Re: [Phys-l] burning match discharges charged body

Tom Bross asks

-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
[mailto:phys-l->bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of
tbross@aol.com

When I charge an electroscope, I found that lighting a match nearby
will >cause a discharge. Does anyone have an explanation?

The flame is partially ionized - those ions are migrating to and
discharging the electroscope.

**********************************************

"A mathematician is a machine for turning coffee into

theorems." -- Paul Erdos

**********************************************

Dr. George Spagna
Chair, Physics Department
Randolph-Macon College
P.O. Box 5005
Ashland, VA 23005-5505

phone: (804) 752-7344
fax: (804) 752-4724
e-mail: gspagna@rmc.edu
http://faculty.rmc.edu/gspagna