Re: pinhole polarity and charge

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From: R Lohman (roaminlohman@telis.org)
Date: Wed Nov 17 1999 - 17:10:19 PST 

Message-Id: <v01540b01b4568dab5933@[209.209.18.204]>
Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 17:10:19 -0800
From: roaminlohman@telis.org (R Lohman)
Subject: Re: pinhole polarity and charge

Induced charge has always been my explanation too. Both positively charged
and negatively charged objects will divert the stream toward the object.
I've done this many times. Maybe this isn't exactly induced charge in the
sense that charges actually move. The water molecule, being polar, could
rotate a bit I would think.

Rich Lohman

>My guess is that the water stream has a polarity induced in it, such that
>it becomes a bit positive near the rod and negative on the other side;
>there are lots of charges in water and these can be influenced to move
>somewhat. It is analagous to that same rod picking up a piece of neutral
>paper. since the positive side is closer than the negative one, it gets
>attracted to the rod. At least this is my guess. eiger
>
>
>>Many high school and college chemistry textbooks show a picture of how a
>>stream of a polar liquid falling will be deflected by a charge wand.
>>Typically, they show liquid falling from a buret and being attracted to a
>>plastic rod, which has a negative charge on it.
>>
>>I've been trying to figure out exactly why this happens, without luck. Help?
>>
>>-Geoff Ruth
>
>Steven Eiger, Ph.D.
>
>Departments of Biology and the WWAMI Medical Education Program
>Montana State University - Bozeman
>Bozeman, MT 59717-3460
>
>Voice: (406) 994-5672
>E-mail: eiger@montana.edu
>FAX: (406) 994-3190
>
>
>
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