ECN Forum Forums Technical Discussion Electrical Theory and Applications What Dirt Looks Like after a Lightning Strike!

It's said by some that if you find one of those rocks after a lighting strike, you can consider yourself a lucky person.

Are these things often found?

Also isn't it true that in some cases, when lightning hits the ground, it makes a hole and at the bottom of the hole you sometimes find a black pebble about the shape and size of a marble - basically melted rock and dirt that has been fused into glass or something?

[This message has been edited by SvenNYC (edited 12-05-2003).]

Some more information and photos:
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/abr/science/fulgu.htm
http://www.mountwashington.org/notebook/transcripts/1999/03/22.html
http://www.schoolersinc.com/fulgurites.htm
http://web2.unt.edu/news/story.cfm?story=8276
http://www.minresco.com/fulgurites/fulgurites.htm
http://www.napa.ufl.edu/oldnews/fulgur.htm

This discussion thread is another example of a great topic to have running here, for the benefit of us all!

Thanks to all persons for contributing data (information), along with Joe Tedesco for bringing the topic here for discussion! Would have to say the question was answered - and then some!

Although this topic is not very related to our Industry directly, the data shown here is very useful to shed some light on the overall effects and mechanics.

This area of Electrophysics is just one in the many many others which are best classified as:
"Whaddaheck???!!!"

The study of Lightning is an in-depth area, along with being extremely interesting! I strongly urge anyone interested in having a complex base knowledge in our Industry to study at least some "Advanced Basics" of this phenomenon.

Now for the "Monkey Wrench"!

Choose one theory to follow:

<OL TYPE=A>


[*] Water - Ice Interface Theory: Theory of energy generated from the freezing of Water into solid Ice,

[*] Friction Theory: Theory of energy generated from Water scraping Electrons while falling through a Cloud,

[*] Thor Theory: Theory of all this stuff being caused by "Thor", the Norse God of Thunder.
</OL>

Have fun!!!

Scott35

p.s. To me, the theory of "A" is more feasible

With, of course, all credit to Joe Tedesco and his awesome site. The comment about electricity acting 'cartoon like' reminds me of the arc display from this incredible video.

Fun to watch, but it makes me glad I'm an under600v guy!

http://www.joetedesco.com/nec/viewtopic.php?t=1248