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An electric field tends to be strongest at the ends of pointed objects. How does this explain the fact that St. Elmo's fire appears on pointed objects such as the masts of ships?

Sagot :

Answer:

The electric field at St. Elmo's fire allows the creation of plasma at the ends, which causes the characteristic luminosity of this object.

Explanation:

It is true that the electric field is stronger at the ends of the pointed objects and that is the reason why these objects manage to accumulate large amounts of charge at their ends. Often, this accumulation is so large that it allows the ends of sharp objects to remove electrons from atoms in the air. This process promotes the creation of plasma, which allows the visualization of luminosity at the ends of sharp objects, as it is possible to see in St. Elmo's fire.