Ironworks Gaming Forum

Ironworks Gaming Forum (http://www.ironworksforum.com/forum/index.php)
-   General Conversation Archives (11/2000 - 01/2005) (http://www.ironworksforum.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=28)
-   -   Ball lightning possible answer! Neat experiment too. (http://www.ironworksforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79647)

Sir Kenyth 06-19-2002 10:37 AM

I saw an old threat on ball lightning and had to post about some research I did in the past. It's theorized that ball lightning is actually plasma created by some natural phenomena. You can recreate it on a small scale by using a strong microwave and smoldering embers. The guys experiment I saw created many small glowing speres that crawled around randomly (even up the wall!) and passed through things. He created them by bombarding a smoldering toothpick, held straight up in the air, with microwaves. I believe there was some other preparation involving running electrode wires into the microwave/tothpick area, but it's been too long and I can't remember. This created a cloud of charged particles that glowed and traveled around until it dissipated. He had pictures that were really cool. It's said that you can also see this phenomena when steel is being cut by an oxidizing flame. Little tiny glowing spheres bounce around the close to the point of cutting. Sparks! At the center of these sparks is usually a tiny particle emitting the charged aura. I'm gonna see if I can find the site again.

Caution! DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME! It will damage/destroy the microwave and expose you to unhealthy levels of microwave radiation.

Calaethis Dragonsbane 06-19-2002 10:40 AM

hmm interesting... but why would ANYONE be stupid enough to try it at home... obviously I havent realised yet that no everyone has 'common sense'... ah well, I'll be disillioused soon enough.

Sir Kenyth 06-19-2002 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Calaethis Dragonsbane:
hmm interesting... but why would ANYONE be stupid enough to try it at home... obviously I havent realised yet that no everyone has 'common sense'... ah well, I'll be disillioused soon enough.
:D Well, the guy who did the experiment tried it at home. Of course, he was a young professional scientist and knew what he was doing.

Calaethis Dragonsbane 06-19-2002 10:56 AM

knew what he was doin? I hope so... lol, if he hadnt it could have been VERY messy...


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:47 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
©2024 Ironworks Gaming & ©2024 The Great Escape Studios TM - All Rights Reserved