Physics: Principles and Problems

Chapter 20: Static Electricity

Problem of the Week

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<a onClick="window.open('/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=gif::::/sites/dl/free/0078458137/193800/POWproblem2.gif','popWin', 'width=NaN,height=NaN,resizable,scrollbars');" href="#"><img valign="absmiddle" height="16" width="16" border="0" src="/olcweb/styles/shared/linkicons/image.gif"> (0.0K)</a> The adhesion between the ice and the surface is due to the attraction between the positive ice surface and the negative wing surface. Breaking the adhesion might be as simple as adding positive charge to the wing to neutralize the electrostatic attraction.

Victor Petrenko of Dartmouth experimented with a glob of mercury on a sheet of ice. The mercury glob was somewhat flattened due to the adhesion with ice. When Victor added a little charge to the mercury, the mercury balled up showing less attraction towards the ice. The effect could also be reversed, causing a surface to stick more firmly to ice. Think about your auto. You might find it useful to increase the friction of your tires on an icy day.

 
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