streaming potential

Streaming potential is an electrical voltage generated when a fluid flows through a porous material or a narrow channel, like a mineral or a membrane. As the fluid moves, it carries charged particles with it, creating an imbalance of electrical charge. This imbalance results in a measurable voltage difference, called streaming potential. It’s often used to study properties of materials, understand fluid flow in small-scale systems, or investigate phenomena in geology and engineering. Essentially, it's a way to convert the movement of a fluid into an electrical signal, revealing information about the flow and the material's properties.