sci.physics.electromag

"Benj"
>
> Read you own citation again!!!

The citation starts with: ""The present state of the art ...." It means that
"The absolute potential of the earth WAS not known. And and the end is: "It
can be shown, however, that the absolute potential of the earth is not
zero."

In the refferences is:
"Rowland's Physics", by J. Miller, Physics Today, Jul. 1976, pp. 29-35.
"On the Magnetic Effect of Electric Convection", by H. Rowland, American
Journal of Science, (3)XV, 30-38, 1878.
"On the Electromagnetic Effect of Convection Currents", by H. Rowland and C.
T. Hutchinson, Philosophical Magazine, 5, XXVII, 445-460, 1889.

Next is:
"BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the art of electrical potential
determination. It finds particular application in determining true or
absolute potential and measuring other potentials on an absolute scale. It
is to be appreciated that the present invention is applicable to monitoring
the potential and change in potential relative to an absolute scale. The
potential of earth ground or other objects such as aircraft, fluid or grain
containers, chemical reaction tanks, hospital patients, and the like may be
measured"
>

> Asking students to think about these things is interesting, but the
> task you are asking them to solve is impossible!

I see three zeros:
1. In infinity
2. Technical: V = 0 on the ground
3. Physical. The condition when on a body is no additional charge.

If charge is when the Rowland effect appear. Is it possible to measure it?
S*