Near Earth's surface the air contains both negative and positive ions, due to radioactivity in the soil and cosmic rays from space. As a simplified model, assume there are 600.0 singly charged positive ions per cm 3 and 500.0 singly charged negative ions per cm3; ignore the presence of multiply charged ions.
The electric field is 100.0 V/m, directed downward.
(a) In which direction do the positive ions move? The negative ions?
(b) What is the direction of the current due to these ions?
(c) The measured resistivity of the air in the region is 4.0 × 1013 Ω · m. Calculate the drift speed of the ions, assuming it to be the same for positive and negative ions
(d) If these conditions existed over the entire surface of the Earth, what is the total current due to the movement of ions in the air?