How many electric charges are there in the earth? why?

Answer 1

The net charge is zero, or very close to it. If it was not, the orbit of the Planet would be substantially disturbed because electric forces are so much larger than gravitational forces (42 orders of magnitude for electrons, 39 orders of magnitude for protons).

The number of positive charges is equal to the number of protons. So is the number of negative charges.

The mass of the Earth (5.974e+24 kg) contains about 3.57e+51 nucleons (each weighing about 1.674e-27 kg). For a rough estimate, we may assume that half of those are protons. This translates into about 1.8 10^51 positive charges and as many negative ones (electrons).

The total charge of each polarity is thus about 3 10^32 coulombs. The net charge is (almost) zero..

Answer 2

HUGE number.

When you rub your feet across a rug you create static electricity by stripping the electrons off and creating ions. Wind and clouds do the same thing to the rotating earth. The wind moves as the temperature changes and because the earth rotates that means ever 24 hours the sun is hitting a different spot. This is what drives all of our weather. It is also why storm clouds can have lightning.

Clouds form when water vapor collects around dust and rubbing dust across different surfaces can create static electricity. The clouds will move because of temperature differences so the rubbing happens, the clouds also rub against each other which is why lightning can spark from cloud to cloud.

Answer 3

Difficult question. I'll try to answer without looking anything up... ("Why?" What do you mean, "Why?"?)...

First, there's the electrical charge of the Earth itself, as a magnet. (Most planets are magnetized if they can hold plasma.)

Then there are the Van Allen belts, inner and outer.

The oceans are also electrified because salt water is ionized.

And the atmosphere is electrified daily by heat changes. (This includes the ion layer.)

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. Unless you want to include man-made electrical charges, or individual life-form electrical charges, and then you're on your own.