In: Physics
Hummingbirds can pick up static charge as they fly either from the air or from interactions with plants. A possible value is +250 pC.
a. Given this charge, did the bird gain positive charge or lose negative charge? Explain.
b. If we model the hummingbird as a sphere with the above net charge attained from the air with a radius of 2.9 cm, what is the electric potential or “voltage” at the bird and 5 cm away from the bird?
c. If we model the bird (charged through interactions with plants) as one side of a capacitor with the earth as the other side with the opposite charge, and the capacitance is 1.3 pF, what is the potential difference between the bird and the earth? (parts b and c are independent questions.)