Question

The earth has a vertical electric field at the surface, pointing down, that averages 110 n/c. This field is maintained by various atmospheric processes, including lightning. What is the average vertical electric field at the surface of the earth?

1) 110 n/c
2) 100 n/c
3) 120 n/c
4) 90 n/c

Answer 1

The average vertical electric field at the surface of Earth is approximately 150 N/C, not the 110 N/C listed in the student's options. This field is maintained by the ionosphere, a layer of charged particles above Earth.

Step-by-step explanation:

The average vertical electric field at the surface of the Earth is approximately 150 N/C, directed downward. This field is created by the ionosphere, a layer of charged particles located about 100 km above the Earth's surface, which interacts with the Earth's surface to maintain the electric field. The given options in the student's question do not include the correct value based on the provided reference material. Therefore, based on the provided information, the multiple-choice answers are not accurate as they do not present the average field value of 150 N/C.

It's important to note that the electric field strength can vary due to weather conditions and local atmospheric processes. For instance, lightning and storm clouds can locally increase the magnitude of the electric field. However, under fair weather conditions, the ionosphere remains positively charged and the Earth negatively charged, contributing to a near-uniform electric field pointing downwards.