Lightning

Turtle · 08-12-2006

Mysterious as lightning is, one variant has topped the list for ages. Ball lightning! I seem to recall in reading a biography of Tesla, that he regularly produced it & manipulated it onstage during his lectures; and yet the current web information has it little understood.
A web search for 'ball lightning' gave theses results:
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This article is as good a place to start the ball rolling as any.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sciencnews.org

Not many people get to see ball lightning, but those who do never forget it. Imagine a glowing orb suddenly materializing in front of you, possibly sizzling or exuding a bluish mist and an acrid smell. The globe may be larger than a beach ball and dart through the air, perhaps hovering occasionally as if considering its next move. The ball may also roll or bounce along the ground, climb utility poles, and skitter along power lines. As it travels, the fiery sphere may destroy electrical equipment, ignite fires, and even singe animals or people.

http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20020209/bob8.asp

Jay-qu · 08-12-2006

what the dog ?

that is possibly the weirdest phenomenon I have heard of..

ronthepon · 08-12-2006

I've read about these 'ball lightning' in a number of shady books. I'm surprised to see that it is not total nut-nonsense.

Gotta see that article...

TheBigDog · 08-13-2006

I find Saint Elmo's Fire as fascinating as ball lightening. That is when things get glow after being near a strike. Can be anything. It is really erie. In about 1994 I was working a midnight shift in Cranbury NJ when the building we were in was struck by lightening and the power went out. We ended up with St Elmo's fire on the roof of the building that cast erie shadows on the surrounding buildings that danced around like images from hell for about 15 minutes.

Bill

Turtle · 08-13-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigDog

I find Saint Elmo's Fire as fascinating as ball lightening. Bill

Good call B! The only reason I have to side with ball lightning as more fascinating is that it difficult if not impossible to reproduce. St. Elmo's fire on the other hand is easily reproduced with a Van de Graff generator.
Several years ago my housemate Ace & I went in halfzies on a desktop Van de Graff generator (total about $120 US as I recall). We spent several weeks conducting experiments outlined in the manual as well as experiments we conjured up. The plasma discharge that is St. Elmos Fire is easily demonstrated by the device, especially to good effect in a darkened room.
After two weeks of experimenting, we returned the Van de Graff for a full refund minus shipping.

Turtle · 08-14-2006

In chatting with housemate Ace about lightning, he proposed collecting it to use the power.

I wan't sure about such a scheme, but that 's a lot of juice in a short period to hang on to. Well, we didn't argue over it at least, & now I have some answers on the question. Short answer is yes, but it's not a reliable source.

Quote:

Originally Posted by firstscience.com

FS: Can we make use of lightning in terms of power?

EW: If lightning occurred in one place in a predictable manner day in and day out, the harnessing of its energy might be seriously considered. Such is not the case. Lightning does strike twice in the same place, but extremely infrequently. To harness the energy, the lightning must strike an electrode connected to a very robust bank of electrical capacitors. One captured strike would deliver at most 10^8 joules. This would provide enough energy to power one electric hairdryer for about ten hours. So clearly, a large number of captured flashes would be needed to supply the energy needs of just a single household.

http://www.firstscience.com/site/articles/lightning.asp

This is an excellent source of information on many other aspects of lightning as well.

Jay-qu · 08-15-2006

10^8 sounds like a lot, until you put it that way! with the females in our house that wouldnt last more than a few days!

Lightning doesnt strike in the same place? what about the large buildings with lightning rods.. are they just one use, then after you get your strike you dont need to bother anymore?

Its probably impractical to pay to hook up capacitors to every lightning rod, as it wouldnt provide enough to justify. BUT if you had one bank for say a city or at least for a few buildings mmm maybe..

Turtle · 08-15-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay-qu

10^8 sounds like a lot, until you put it that way!
Lightning doesnt strike in the same place? what about the large buildings with lightning rods.. are they just one use, then after you get your strike you dont need to bother anymore?

Poor choice of words on the author's part.

Lightning doesn't regularly, reliably, & predictably strike in the same place, but it does happen.

I propose mobile units with trucks carrying large capacitors & trucks with banks of rockets trailing wire like they use down in Florida to induce lightning for research. Drive to a storm, fire the rocket(s) into a cloud, & collect the juice.

Now that's a Rocket Man Elton!

ronthepon · 08-15-2006

But how can the energy of a lightning bolt be harnessed?

I mean take the case where a lightning strikes a rod with a very high possibility. Then how can we capture the energy?

Not pessimistic here... just asking.

Turtle · 08-15-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronthepon

But how can the energy of a lightning bolt be harnessed?

I mean take the case where a lightning strikes a rod with a very high possibility. Then how can we capture the energy?

Not pessimistic here... just asking.

From the article:

Quote:

Originally Posted by firstscience.com

...the lightning must strike an electrode connected to a very robust bank of electrical capacitors.

http://www.firstscience.com/site/articles/lightning.asp