a)Find the electrostatic energy stored in the cloud just before a discharge. B)W

Question

a)Find the electrostatic energy stored in the cloud just before a discharge.

B)What is the potential difference between the top and bottom plates?

A typical thundercloud can be modeled as a capacitor with horizontal plates with (3MV.m^-1).100km^2 area seperated by a vertical distance of 5km. Just before a large lightning discharge, the upper plate may have a total positive charge of up to 300C, with the lower plate having an equal amount of negative charge. a)Find the electrostatic energy stored in the cloud just before a discharge. B)What is the potential difference between the top and bottom plates? c)What is the average electric field within the cloud?How does this value compare to the dielectric breakdown field of dry air

Explanation / Answer

Area of the plates, A = 100 km^2 The distance between the plates, d = 5 km The charge on the capacitor, Q = 300 C a) The electrostatic energy stored in, U = Q^2/2C The capcitance, C = 0A/d = 17.7 * 10^-14 = 0.18 * 10^-12 = 0.18 pF So the energy stored, U = 25 * 10^16 J b) Charge on one plate, q1 = 300 C Charge on another plate, q2 = -300 C Potential difference, V = Q/C = 600/(0.18 * 10^-12 ) = 3.3 * 10^15 volts c) I have no Idea on this part. ThanQ

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