It then flows away laterally, and as it approaches colder
regions gets denser, sinking lower and nearer to the earth's surface. The
aqueous particles becoming reduced in size, the extent of their surfaces
is proportionately reduced. It follows that as the particles and their
surfaces are reduced, the charge is confined to a smaller surface, and
attains, therefore, a greater "surface density," or in simpler language, a
greater amount of electricity per unit of surface.
Electricity, as above set forth, is in what is known as the "static"
condition (to distinguish it from electricity which is being transferred
in the form of a current), when it has the property of "repelling itself"
to the utmost limits of any conductor upon which it may be confined. This
will account for the charge finding its way to the surface of the water
particles, and will furthermore account for the greater density of the
charge as the particle gets smaller and has the extent of its surface
rapidly diminished. It may be mentioned that the surface of a sphere
varies as the cube of its radius.
Returning to the discussion of the state of affairs existing when the
particles have reached their highest position in the atmosphere, we may
imagine that they set themselves off on journeys toward either the north
or the south pole.
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