In reply to Terry Blanton's message of Mon, 4 Oct 2010 13:38:06 -0400: Hi, [snip] >> That's easy, 0. The solar wind is neutral. > >Then how does the satellite work at the beginning of this thread?
It uses a magnetic field to separate the two (see MHD). >There must be far more electrons than protons. If one charge were more prevalent than another then a voltage would develop as the mass left the Sun. This voltage would rapidly slow the departing charges, eventually bringing them to halt and sucking them back, or alternatively an equal number of opposite charges would leave the Sun and go with them. The latter is what actually happens, which is why plasma is neutral overall. BTW this also means that charges of both signs travel at the same velocity, which in turn means that 99.95% of the energy is carried by the protons, as they are 1836 times more massive than the electrons. Regards, Robin van Spaandonk http://rvanspaa.freehostia.com/Project.html
