On the Electrification of Ice Crystals

Abstract

An experiment on the electrification of ice crystals was conducted. Ice crystals grew on the outer surface of copper vessel in which some adequate refrigerating substances were set. Generation of static electrical charges occurred as ice crystals grew rapidly. Electrical charges were measured by Hankel's electrometer. Although the quantity and sign of charge differed owing to the sort of refrigerating substances that were accompanied with vaporized organic molecules, ice crystals grown-rapidly in the air which was lacking the static electrical activity of organic molecules electrified negatively almost always.
It may be expected that generation and separation of electrical charge in thundercloud occur in the process of rapid growing of ice crystals.