Moving electric charge is the basis of many phenomena occurring in nature. For example, many particles charged with high energy are constantly "bombarding" our Earth.
Between the Earth and the Universe
Most of them originate outside the solar system in the form of protons, and somewhere around 14% - in the form of particles. Most likely, the charges are formed within the Galaxy and therefore are called galactic rays. We also know well the sun's rays, which consist of protons. The impact is especially strong when disturbances occur on the surface of the Sun.
As they approach the Earth, the charges enter its magnetic field. If the moving electric charge has little energy, the particle is deflected and does not reach the Earth. But particles charged with high energy are able to reach the surface. At the same time, they seem to wind around the magnetic lines of force.
There are zones near the Earth where charged particles accumulate in especially large quantities. They are called radiation belts and arekind of "traps" where the charges are captured by the field.
The geomagnetic field holds most of the electrons and protons due to the fact that in the atmosphere they collide with the atomic nuclei of atmospheric gases. Nuclear reactions take place and neutrons are emitted that have no charge. Therefore, the magnetic field does not act on them.
Neutrons pass into a zone of less intensity, and then decay into electrons, protons and neutrinos, which (with the exception of neutrinos) are again captured by the magnetic field. Eventually, radiation belts form. The neutrino flies away, since it does not have a moving electric charge.
Natural phenomena
Everyone has heard and some have seen such a natural phenomenon as the aurora borealis. Most often it can be observed in the high latitudes of the north. Less often it appears to the south. The light here is generated by solar protons penetrating the magnetic field.
The atmosphere at the height of their cluster is very rarefied. But even here there is oxygen and nitrogen, colliding with which a glow is obtained. These phenomena occur continuously, but are far from always noticeable to human vision. However, when the Sun experiences disturbances, the increased number of protons will allow people to observe an extremely beautiful sight in the sky.
Another well-known natural phenomenon containing a moving electric charge is lightning. Huge electrical discharges in the form of sparks occur in them. Lightning occurs between clouds in the atmosphere or between clouds and the ground. Their length sometimes reaches several kilometers, while the diameter is only a few tens of centimeters, and the duration does not even reach a second. Lightning almost always appears with thunder. Most often they have a linear shape, but sometimes they are in the form of balls. The latter are especially surrounded by mystical stories.
Current
Moving electric charge is called electric current, which is of interest to the practical life of people. With its help, electric motors, television, radio, computers and many other devices work. Whatever area of human activity is touched, the effects caused by electric charges are everywhere.
The emergence of current and its relationship with magnetic and electric fields is associated with the name of Faraday, who formulated the theory proclaiming that electric charges do not act on each other directly. Each of them creates an electric field around itself. With the help of it, interaction takes place.
Electric field of a moving charge
The main quantity acting in an electric field is the force that is applied to a positive charge. It is called the strength of the electric field.
For convenience, any field in space is depicted as lines of force, the tangents of which show its direction. They can be seen in any viscous liquid when mixed with an elongated dielectric. Near a body with a charge, pieces of dielectric line up in a row along the forcelines.
Electric field can be potential. In it, the work of forces does not depend on the shape of the path when moving the charge to different points. Thus, the position of two points in this field determines the work of the charge between them (which is the voltage).
Some more interesting features
Electric current can only appear in the presence of an electric field. All substances, depending on their ability to maintain a current in themselves, are conductors and insulators. The former have a lot of free charges, so they move easily. Insulators don't have them.
In magnetic fields, unlike electric fields, lines of force have neither beginning nor end. For example, in a straight conductor they are a circle.
In addition, it is interesting that the electric charge, which is stationary, in a magnetic field has no effect. It occurs only with a moving charge.
