JCE Online Journal of Chemical EducationDivision of Chemical Education, American Chemical SocietyAmerican Chemical Society
 | Subscriptions  | Software Orders  | Support  | Contributors  | Advertisers  | 



  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 1996  > September  >
Research: Science and Education
Why Does a Stream of Water Deflect in an Electric Field?
G. K. Vemulapalli and S. G. Kukolich
Department of Chemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85745
Cover
September 1996
Vol. 73 No. 9
p. 887
Abstract
A popular lecture demonstration shows a stream of water bending in the presence of an electrified object. We have quantitatively analyzed this phenomenon after experimenting with controlled electric fields. The following are our conclusions. (i) The electric field must be nonuniform for this effect to be observed. The electric force is proportional to the product of the field and its gradient. In case of water, these are of the order of 105 V m-1 and 108 V m-2. (ii) The effect is readily observed with water because the gravitational force opposing the deflection is small due to lighter mass of water molecules. (iii) Since electric fields induce dipole moments, even nonpolar molecules show deflection if the field is strong enough. Statements in many textbooks about this phenomenon are misleading since they do not point out the importance of nonunimformity of the field, the relative magnitudes of gravitational and electric forces, and the possibility that induced dipoles also undergo deflection.
More Information
*  Citation
 J. Chem. Educ. 1996 73 887.
*  Keywords
*  History
 Created:
Last Updated:		 September 21, 1999
February 21, 2006
<< Previous Article Table of Contents Next Article >>
  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 1996 > September > Page 887



Chemistry Teacher Connection

The "Chemistry Teacher Connection" (CTC) is especially for high school chemistry teachers. For only $40/year, it offers an online-only subscription to CLIC along with membership in the Division of Chemical Education, normally $65/year. CTC subscribers receive access to all articles and supplements from 1996 through the current issue.
More About CTC
Order the Chemistry Teacher Connection

C&EN CLICs

Through special arrangement with the ACS, JCE High School CLIC is now able to provide subscribers with online access to Chemical & Engineering News articles that have been selected specifically for secondary science instructors and their students. 
 C&EN CLICs

JCE Collections Available
Occasionally, collections of JCE back issues become available for donation to individual teachers, schools, or libraries. JCE matches collections with interested recipients. Recipients pay shipping costs or pick up the collection.
 List of available collections

Contributions Welcome
JCE welcomes your submission
 Contributors's Corner

Subscriptions
 Subscription Info
 Order Forms

Fishing for New Ideas
Always in the
process of
improving, CLIC
welcomes ideas and comments.

Email Us

NSF logoDivCHEDACS ACS PubsFor journals in other fields of chemistry visit ACS Publications.
Comments to
jceonline@chem.wisc.edu		 Copyright © 2008 Division of Chemical Education, Inc., American Chemical Society.
All rights reserved.		  Terms | Privacy