Scientists Discover Electrostatic Rotation

Researchers have identified a new physical phenomenon — electrostatic rotation — that in the absence of friction can lead to spin. This adds to the understanding of how the smallest building blocks in nature react to form solids, liquids and gases. University of California, Riverside, researchers first observed the electrostatic rotation in static experiments using three metal spheres suspended by thin metal wires. When a DC voltage was applied to the spheres they began to rotate until the stiffness of the suspending wires prevented further rotation. The researchers said experimental and theoretical work suggested the cumulative effect of electric charges would be an asymmetric force if the charges sitting on the surface of spheres were asymmetrically distributed but the experiments showed they could control the charge distribution by controlling the relative position of the spheres. Spin is used in quantum mechanics to explain phenomena at the nuclear, atomic and molecular domains for which there is no concrete physical picture.