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Presentation Type
Presentation
Full Name of Faculty Mentor
George Hitt and Roi Gurka, Physics and Engineering Science
Major
Applied Physics
Presentation Abstract
Dust storms on Mars can last for months at a time and can reach peak speeds of 30 m/s. However, considering Mars's incredibly thin atmosphere, these storms should be significantly slower, if at all. We hypothesize that the triboelectric effect, friction-based electrification, in conjunction with the large levels of radiation, due to Mars thin atmosphere and lack of a magnetic field, may generate lift force upon Martian dust to produce such large storms. The triboelectric effect has been shown to cause sparks when shaking dust in a low-pressured environment, and radiation has shown its potential to cause lift; an example, a gold leaf lifting once exposed to x-rays. The aim of this research is to thoroughly investigate this phenomenon and examine the possible connection of both radiation and triboelectric effects may have on Martian dust storms.
Location
Virtual Session Room 1
Start Date
22-4-2021 3:20 PM
End Date
22-4-2021 3:40 PM
Recommended Citation
Saussaman, Tanner, "The Role of Radiation on Martian Dust Storms" (2021). Undergraduate Research Competition. 14.
https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/ugrc/2021/fullconference/14
The Role of Radiation on Martian Dust Storms
Virtual Session Room 1
Dust storms on Mars can last for months at a time and can reach peak speeds of 30 m/s. However, considering Mars's incredibly thin atmosphere, these storms should be significantly slower, if at all. We hypothesize that the triboelectric effect, friction-based electrification, in conjunction with the large levels of radiation, due to Mars thin atmosphere and lack of a magnetic field, may generate lift force upon Martian dust to produce such large storms. The triboelectric effect has been shown to cause sparks when shaking dust in a low-pressured environment, and radiation has shown its potential to cause lift; an example, a gold leaf lifting once exposed to x-rays. The aim of this research is to thoroughly investigate this phenomenon and examine the possible connection of both radiation and triboelectric effects may have on Martian dust storms.