On the Effect of Air Bubbles in Ice on Frictional Charge Separation

Abstract

The effect of air bubbles in ice on the frictional charge separation was measured by the use of asymmetric rubbing of two ice rods of different concentration of air bubbles. It was found that the ice rod with the larger concentration of air bubbles was charged negatively and that the magnitude of the charge was greater than that obtained when ice rods of different temperature were rubbed. This result suggests that under natural conditions, graupel pellets will be charged negatively during fall when they collide with snow crystals.