Earth's atmosphere is constantly bombarded by cosmic ray protons that originate somewhere in space. If the protons all passed through the atmosphere, assume that each square meter of Earth's surface would intercept protons at the average rate of 1110 protons per second. What would be the electric current intercepted by the total surface area of the planet?

Question

Physics

Hana Davies

24 September, 23:35

Earth's atmosphere is constantly bombarded by cosmic ray protons that originate somewhere in space. If the protons all passed through the atmosphere, assume that each square meter of Earth's surface would intercept protons at the average rate of 1110 protons per second. What would be the electric current intercepted by the total surface area of the planet?

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Kellen Ballard · Answer 1

Each square meter of earth surface intercepts 1110 protons per second.

Total surface of the earth will intercept no of proton equal to

= 1110 x area of surface

= 1110 x 5.1 x 10¹⁴ m²

= 5661 x 10¹⁴

Total charge

= 1.6 x 10⁻¹⁹ x 5661 x 10¹⁴ coulomb per second

=.09 A.

electric current intercepted by the total surface area of the planet =.09 A.