Re: Curvature of Space

[brian whatcott <inet@intellisys.net>]

At 10:26 2/20/98 -0600, Gary Kershner wrote:
[Leigh]
> > If the water thread is uncharged it will not be deflected
> > by an electric field. Again, ask "Which way would it go?"
> > You are forgetting that an electric field exerts no force
> > on an uncharged object. 
>
> Leigh,
>        If memory serves dielectrics have no net charge and yet are affected
> by electric fields? 
> Gary Karshner
>
> St. Mary's University
> San Antonio, Texas
> KARSHNER@STMARYTX.EDU
Leigh's quote is a little misleading or possibly disingenuous.
His difficulty is not in accepting that a charged balloon deflects 
a falling thread of water (At least I sincerely hope this is the case)
 - but simply that this effect is due to field gradient rather than 
field alone.
 (Who but a physicist, when asked to imagine a strong electric field
would automatically assume it to be uniform?) 
      :-)
brian whatcott <inet@intellisys.net>
Altus OK