Earth’s lower atmosphere contains negative and positive ions that are produced by radioactive elements in the soil and cosmic rays from space. In a certain region, the atmospheric electric field strength is 120 V/m and the field is directed vertically down.This field causes singly charged positive ions, at a density of 620 cm3, to drift downward and singly charged negative ions, at a density of 550 cm3, to drift upward. The measured conductivity of the air in that region is 2.70 * 10-14 (ohmm)-1. Calculate (a) the magnitude of the current density and (b) the ion drift speed, assumed to be the same for positive and negative ions.

College Physics
11th Edition
ISBN:9781305952300
Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Chapter1: Units, Trigonometry. And Vectors
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Earth’s lower atmosphere contains negative and positive
ions that are produced by radioactive elements in the soil
and cosmic rays from space. In a certain region, the atmospheric electric field strength is 120 V/m and the field is directed vertically
down.This field causes singly charged positive ions, at a density
of 620 cm3, to drift downward and singly charged negative
ions, at a density of 550 cm3, to drift upward. The
measured conductivity of the air in that region is 2.70 * 10-14
(ohmm)-1. Calculate (a) the magnitude of the current density and
(b) the ion drift speed, assumed to be the same for positive and
negative ions.

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