Hi,

I recently have some questions about a floating plate in a corona discharge region. Please see the picture, the corona discharge is produced by a wire-cylinder configuration, the wire is stressed by a positive high voltage (namely emitter) and the cylinder is stressed by a negative high voltage (namely collector). A floating plate (initially neutral) is placed in the gap between the electrodes.

After the corona discharge ignites, the emitter emits the positive charges into the gap between the electrodes, then some charges are deposited on the plate. Because of the charges, an electrostatic force from the electric field will act on the plate and move the plate towards the collector.

Now I want to calculate this electrostatic force and my questions are:

1. Is it reasonable to calculate the electrostatic force on the floating plate by the equation F=E*Q, where E is the electric field located at the plate, Q is the charge deposited on the plate.

2. If yes, how to calculate the charge Q of the plate?

3. If no, can you give me some suggestions about this issue.

Thanks.