Electrostatic Induction

Electrostatic InductionElectrostatic induction is the occurrence of the unbalanced electric charge in neutral metal bodies as a result of a contact or an adjacent position with a charged body. If the charged body charges positively then the electrons in a neutral body will be attracted to it. If the body's opposite side is earthed then electrons will flow towards it to replace the opposite-charged ones. Thus the body charges negatively in relation to the ground at the moment of link disconnection.Unlike in conductors the charges of dielectrics shift insignificantly in relation to each other when an external electric field is applied. They form electric dipoles which moments are proportional to E. There can also be a frequency alignment of molecules with an electric moment in the field direction. In both cases there is a nonzero overall electric moment of the dielectric. At the same time binding charges occur on the dielectric surface. The described phenomenon is called dielectric polarization.The phenomenon of electrostatic induction was discovered in the middle of the 18th century. It was an important stage in the development of the electric theory. Presently there are numerous designs of devices which use electrostatic induction for transforming natural phenomena into electric energy.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• discharge
• history of technics
• induction
• physics