- A Self Organised Structure for the Tornado

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- A Self Organised Structure for the Tornado

Don't dismiss this theory on the grounds that the electromagnetic fieldproduced by a moving charge is many times smaller than the electrostaticforces produced by the same charge. Or calculate on the basis of large pointcharges. In a gas, the forces apply to a single molecule or a single electron.There is no aggregation of charge. Read right through, and assess whetherthis theory accounts for the points made by observation of tornadoes.

This theory proposes that the tornado forms from the  rotation (round a vertical axis) of a large volume of cloud which carries an electricalcharge.

Such rotation has been measured in many clouds using doplar radar, and the rotation of clouds prior to the formation of tornadoes has been filmed.

The electrons that give such a cloud a charge are attached to molecules of N2 or O2 or water vapour. Only a small proprtion of these air molecules will carry this excess charge. The majority of molecules will be electrically neutral.

The molecules in a cloud of gas are moving randomly in all directions in proportion to their temperature, and near collisions between these molecules give rise to the gas pressure. The charge particles will similarly be carried in all directions.
In a rotating cloud, there is an overall flow of these molecules in the direction of rotation, which is the net flow of this random movement of molecules in the direction of rotating.
We cannot therefore consider the effects produced by these molecules, as being molecules moving in parallel - because they are not. We can compare the net result of these molecules random movements against the net results of the random movements of all the molecules in the cloud.

This theory is based on the following forces:
Each moving charge will create an electromagnetic field round itself.  The sum of the magnetic field produced by the random movements in the direction of rotation will produce a solenoidal magnetic field round the verticalaxis of rotation.

The electrostatic charge on each charged molecule will repel others, but in a large charge cloud this will be approximately the same in all directions.
Electrostatic charge between charged molecules can cause increased separation of these molecules - an electrostatic pressure - that opposes the surrounding air pressure. This electrostatic pressure causes a slight decrease in density in the the charge cloud, but it is otherwise stable. The electrostatic pressure can be balanced by the air pressure, so that the charge cloud does not fly apart under mutual repulsion of charge.

In a cloud that has an electrostatic gradient, neutral molecules form dipoles that experience a force that attracts them towards a point of increasedcharge.

Development of these forces within a rotating charged cloud.

  1. Assume the cloud is initially rotating round a vertical axis, and the excess charge is uniformly distributed.
  2. The electrostatic pressure is the same in all directions, and has not net force on a charged particle.
  3. The net flow of the charged particles round the vertical axis will produce a small electromagnetic field shaped as a solenoid round the vertical axis.
  4. As charged molecules follow their random paths in this circulation, there will be a small net force inwards as they move through the electromagnetic field of the solenoid.
  5. This small net force inwards will result in a small increase in pressure inwards.
  6. As molecules collide in this circulation, there will be a small inwards force on the charge, pushing the charge inwards.
  7. These small forces will result in the transfer inwards of a small amount of rotational energy from the kinetic movement of these molecules. This will be observed as a small acceleration of the rotational velocity ofthe charge cloud towards the center of rotation, through conservation ofrotational energy.

Continued development of the rotating charge cloud.

  1. Charge is now slightly greater towards the centre of rotation.
  2. Electrostatic pressure is now greater towards the centre of rotation, but as these molecules move further apart through electrostatic pressure, the kinetic component of air pressure reduces to match: The net pressureforces on these molecules remains the same.
  3. The increased net flow of the charged particles round the vertical axis produces an increased electromagnetic field.
  4. The increased density of charged particles in the faster circulation produces an increased electromagnetic field.
  5. Two new forces now come into play:
    • The aerodynamic forces at work in a faster moving airflow reduce its internal pressure.
    • The increase in charge towards the centre of rotation now results in an electrostatic charge gradient from the centre outwards. The neutral molecules in the rotating cloud now form dipoles that experience a net attraction towards the center. These now contribute to the inwards force and the transfer of rotational energy inwards.
  6. Positive feedback results in increased electromagnetic fields, increased charge transfer inwards, increased rotational velocity of a smaller core.
Equilibrium state for the rotating cloud.

Electron cascade

The vortex tube.