Since the earth stores billions of electrons, is there any way the
earth could be used as a usable battery? I guess its not a good
conductor but has any method been devised to make it a good conductor?

What about the ionosphere. Lots of charged particles there. If there
was some way to tap into the ionosphere, would that mean free flow of
electricity to the earth?

Just thinking out loud.

Hindian wrote:
Since the earth stores billions of electrons, is there any way the
earth could be used as a usable battery?

How many electrons do you think there are in a grain of sand?
What's your definition of battery?

Hindian wrote:
Since the earth stores billions of electrons, is there any way the
earth could be used as a usable battery? I guess its not a good
conductor but has any method been devised to make it a good conductor?

What about the ionosphere. Lots of charged particles there. If there
was some way to tap into the ionosphere, would that mean free flow of
electricity to the earth?

Just thinking out loud.
Hello,
The system earth-ionosphere is not a battery but rather like a
condenser. The electrical field strength is in normal times
approximately 100 to 150 V/m.
Thats great, would you say. Alas, the dielectric is to performing, too
good an insulator, and all you can expect is a columnal current of about
20pA/m^2.
By the way, the isea is not new and others have been disappointed...
Peter

On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 19:32:52 GMT, Sam Wormley
wrote:

Hindian wrote:
Since the earth stores billions of electrons, is there any way the
earth could be used as a usable battery?

How many electrons do you think there are in a grain of sand?
What's your definition of battery?


I'm sure there are many. But I'm talking about free electons. As in
electrons not bound to atoms. When lightning discharges to ground,
where do all the electrons go.

Does not the earth carry a charge of some sort, why can't we use this
charge?

Hindian wrote:

Since the earth stores billions of electrons,

Hey schmuck - 96,500 Coulombs/mole electrons near enough. "billions
of electrons" HA HA HA!

Not a one. The entire planet is electrically neutral. Make a gold
leaf electormeter. Nothing.

is there any way the
earth could be used as a usable battery?
[snip crap]

A battery is a set of two or more electrochemical cells. What is the
other planet, idiot?

--
Uncle Al
http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/
(Toxic URL! Unsafe for children and most mammals)
http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/qz.pdf

Hindian wrote:
On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 19:32:52 GMT, Sam Wormley
wrote:


Hindian wrote:

Since the earth stores billions of electrons, is there any way the
earth could be used as a usable battery?

How many electrons do you think there are in a grain of sand?
What's your definition of battery?



I'm sure there are many. But I'm talking about free electons. As in
electrons not bound to atoms. When lightning discharges to ground,
where do all the electrons go.

Does not the earth carry a charge of some sort, why can't we use this
charge?

The Earth is electrically neutral.... remove electrons from atom (as
in a thunder cloud) and they jump back (as in lightning). The energy to
drive thunderstorms come from the sun.

Uncle Al wrote:
Hindian wrote:

Since the earth stores billions of electrons,


Hey schmuck - 96,500 Coulombs/mole electrons near enough. "billions
of electrons" HA HA HA!

Not a one. The entire planet is electrically neutral. Make a gold
leaf electormeter. Nothing.

is there any way the

earth could be used as a usable battery?

[snip crap]

A battery is a set of two or more electrochemical cells. What is the
other planet, idiot?

I admit, Iwas a bit puzzled by this abusively rude answer, seemingly to
my response. Could you couple yourself in the future to the message you
are commenting this vehemently? Still better, moderate your excessive prose!
peter

On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 20:52:13 GMT, Sam Wormley
wrote:

The Earth is electrically neutral.... remove electrons from atom (as
in a thunder cloud) and they jump back (as in lightning). The energy to
drive thunderstorms come from the sun.

I understand free electrons do not remain free for long. But does it
mean there are no electrons free in the earth.

In one of Tesla's experiments, he was trying to transmit electicity
through the earth by simulating a lightning strike. Or so i
understand. I know he didn't succeed (or did he?)

Now if the earth neutralises charges so well/quickly, was that
experiment doomed to failure from the start.

Hindian wrote:
On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 20:52:13 GMT, Sam Wormley
wrote:


The Earth is electrically neutral.... remove electrons from atom (as
in a thunder cloud) and they jump back (as in lightning). The energy to
drive thunderstorms come from the sun.


I understand free electrons do not remain free for long. But does it
mean there are no electrons free in the earth.

You should ask yourself where do free electrons come from?


In one of Tesla's experiments, he was trying to transmit electicity
through the earth by simulating a lightning strike. Or so i
understand. I know he didn't succeed (or did he?)

You should do a search and find out what Tesla was doing.

On Mon, 10 Jan 2005 21:40:37 +0100, peter wrote:

Hello,
The system earth-ionosphere is not a battery but rather like a
condenser. The electrical field strength is in normal times
approximately 100 to 150 V/m.
Thats great, would you say. Alas, the dielectric is to performing, too
good an insulator, and all you can expect is a columnal current of about
20pA/m^2.

Hi peter,

The US has a project called HAARP which charges up the ionosphere to
study it for communication & defence applications. If they find ways
of overcoming the insulative properties of the ionosphere and
discharging it, perhaps it might be a mass source of power.

Sadly I don't know enough to comment on how that might be possible.