- #1
Bill Hendry
- 1
- 0
We have set the Earths' Voltage at zero volts but is this 'earth voltage' applicable throughout the Universe. If not, is it relative in the same manner as spacetime and is it calculatable?
For most applications, the choice of which voltage to choose to be zero is a convention rather than a fundamental fact about reality. It's less that the Earth has a voltage of zero, but rather that it has a consistent voltage that we can rely upon. When doing calculations for how most electric systems operate, you can add a constant voltage to every component in the system and its behavior will not change one iota. You could easily say, "The Earth's voltage is 3V," and pretty much nothing would change.Bill Hendry said:We have set the Earths' Voltage at zero volts but is this 'earth voltage' applicable throughout the Universe. If not, is it relative in the same manner as spacetime and is it calculatable?
My bet is that there is some potential here caused by the solar wind. It will be pretty small, however.Ibix said:A possible interpretation of the question is "is Earth potential the same as Mars potential"? Or Vulcan potential, or whatever your favourite extra-solar planet is. I think the answer to that is yes, because otherwise we'd see electric fields in space affecting the solar wind.
I thought about that, but the solar wind must be electrically neutral overall otherwise the Sun would accumulate a charge. I guess local charge density can fluctuate, which might induce small time-varying potential differences, I suppose?kimbyd said:My bet is that there is some potential here caused by the solar wind. It will be pretty small, however.
The Sun likely has accumulated a (small) charge due to the fact that electrons and protons have different masses.Ibix said:I thought about that, but the solar wind must be electrically neutral overall otherwise the Sun would accumulate a charge. I guess local charge density can fluctuate, which might induce small time-varying potential differences, I suppose?
Earth's potential of 0 volts refers to its electrical potential energy, which is the amount of energy required to move an electric charge from one point to another. It is important because it helps us understand the electrical properties of Earth and its interactions with other celestial bodies in the Universe.
No, Earth's potential of 0 volts is not unique to our planet. It is a fundamental property of all objects in the Universe that have a surface and an atmosphere, including other planets, moons, and even stars.
Earth's potential of 0 volts is measured by using a device called an electrometer, which can detect and measure the electric potential difference between two points on Earth's surface. The measurement is typically taken at sea level, where the potential is closest to 0 volts.
Yes, Earth's potential of 0 volts can change due to various factors such as atmospheric conditions, geological activity, and solar activity. For example, lightning strikes and volcanic eruptions can temporarily alter Earth's potential, but it usually returns to 0 volts soon after.
Earth's potential of 0 volts is relatively low compared to other celestial bodies, such as Jupiter and Saturn, which have much higher electrical potentials. This is because their larger size and stronger gravity result in a higher electric field and potential. However, Earth's potential is still significant in understanding the electrical properties of the Universe.