Critical Potential Differences for Charge Transfer between Separated Spheres

Abstract

MANY workers^1,2 have measured the voltage difference required for the passage of a spark between spherical electrodes as a function of their radii and separation. Few measurements, however, have been made of the potential difference necessary to effect charge transfer between two spheres by means of a discharge process in the range of separations 5 × 10⁻³ cm to 10⁻¹ cm. This information was required in order to develop the quantitative applications of the calculations of Davis³ (on the electrostatic forces between conducting spheres situated in an electric field) to the atmospheric problems of the coalescence of water droplets⁴ and the inductive theory of electrification of thunderstorms^5,6.