Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 April 1919 — Electricity Plays a Part in the Formation of Hail According to One Theory [ARTICLE]

Electricity Plays a Part in the Formation of Hail According to One Theory

The formation of hail through electric action, according to one theory, is an interesting and even wonderful' process. The wind draws out a cloud Into a long, narrow strip. In that form, owing to the great amount of surface exposed to the air, the cloud evaporates rapidly, producing Intense cold. Dry particles of snow are then formed and these, by friction with water drops, quickly become charged with negative electricity. But the water drops carry positive electricity, and since negative attracts positive a fiim of water Is formed upon each snow particle and is Instantly frozen Into a layer of ice. At this thickness its outer surface remains moist, the water not freezing so rapidly there, whereupon the electric charge changes from negative to positive and the particle Is repelled by the water drops and driven to the outer parts of the cloud. Here the Increased cold covers It with snow, and friction charges It anew with negative electricity. Repulsion is now once more changed for attraction, and the particle rushes back into the cloud, receiving upon Its surface another film of water, which Is turned Into a second Ice layer. Thus the growing rfallstone darts zigzag through the cloud, piling up its alternate layers of snow and Ice, until gravitation gains control and sends it with a jingling crowd of Its fello\*s spinning to the ground.