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Near the surface of the Earth, there is an electric field (even when there is no thunderstorm). Usually, the air is positively charged, and the ground is negatively charged, creating an electric field of typically 100V/m, pointing vertically down. This phenomenon is known as “atmospheric electricity". In our discussions below, treat this electric field as uniform, so that we have plane symmetry in the system. Human body has an average dielectric constant of &. = 50. Under the atmospheric electricity, the human body can be treated as a linear dielectric. a) For a person standing on the surface of the Earth, calculate the electric field inside the human body due to the atmospheric electricity. b) For the same person, calculate the polarization inside the body due to the atmospheric electricity. c) For the same person, calculate the surface bound charge density on the top of their head and the surface bound charge density on the bottom of their feet. d) Briefly explain why you cannot electrically shock yourself when touching other parts of your body using your hand. e) When someone gets an electric shock from a doorknob, could it be due to the polarization of their hand caused by the atmospheric electricity? Feel free to research online. Cite the source if you quote someone else's studies.

Near the surface of the Earth, there is an electric field (even when there is no thunderstorm). Usually, the air is positively charged, and the ground is negatively charged, creating an electric field of typically 100V/m, pointing vertically down. This phenomenon is known as “atmospheric electricity". In our discussions below, treat this electric field as uniform, so that we have plane symmetry in the system. Human body has an average dielectric constant of &. = 50. Under the atmospheric electricity, the human body can be treated as a linear dielectric. a) For a person standing on the surface of the Earth, calculate the electric field inside the human body due to the atmospheric electricity. b) For the same person, calculate the polarization inside the body due to the atmospheric electricity. c) For the same person, calculate the surface bound charge density on the top of their head and the surface bound charge density on the bottom of their feet. d) Briefly explain why you cannot electrically shock yourself when touching other parts of your body using your hand. e) When someone gets an electric shock from a doorknob, could it be due to the polarization of their hand caused by the atmospheric electricity? Feel free to research online. Cite the source if you quote someone else's studies.

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Near the surface of the Earth, there is an electric field (even when there is no thunderstorm). Usually, the air is positively charged, and the ground is negatively charged, creating an electric field of typically 100V/m, pointing vertically down. This phenomenon is known as “atmospheric electricity". In our discussions below, treat this electric field as uniform, so that we have plane symmetry in the system. Human body has an average dielectric constant of ɛ, = 50. Under the atmospheric electricity, the human body can be treated as a linear dielectric. a) For a person standing on the surface of the Earth, calculate the electric field inside the human body due to the atmospheric electricity. b) For the same person, calculate the polarization inside the body due to the atmospheric electricity. c) For the same person, calculate the surface bound charge density on the top of their head and the surface bound charge density on the bottom of their feet. d) Briefly explain why you cannot electrically shock yourself when touching other parts of your body using your hand. e) When someone gets an electric shock from a doorknob, could it be due to the polarization of their hand caused by the atmospheric electricity? Feel free to research online. Cite the source if you quote someone else's studies.
Transcribed Image Text:Near the surface of the Earth, there is an electric field (even when there is no thunderstorm). Usually, the air is positively charged, and the ground is negatively charged, creating an electric field of typically 100V/m, pointing vertically down. This phenomenon is known as “atmospheric electricity". In our discussions below, treat this electric field as uniform, so that we have plane symmetry in the system. Human body has an average dielectric constant of ɛ, = 50. Under the atmospheric electricity, the human body can be treated as a linear dielectric. a) For a person standing on the surface of the Earth, calculate the electric field inside the human body due to the atmospheric electricity. b) For the same person, calculate the polarization inside the body due to the atmospheric electricity. c) For the same person, calculate the surface bound charge density on the top of their head and the surface bound charge density on the bottom of their feet. d) Briefly explain why you cannot electrically shock yourself when touching other parts of your body using your hand. e) When someone gets an electric shock from a doorknob, could it be due to the polarization of their hand caused by the atmospheric electricity? Feel free to research online. Cite the source if you quote someone else's studies.
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