Naked Science Forum
General Science => General Science => Topic started by: neilep on 25/11/2008 13:49:25
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Dear Lightningologidts !
I thought lightning always finds the shortest path when it strikes !...Last thing I heard, the shortest path between two objects is usually a straight line. (The exception to this is when wifey needs to get some shopping from M&S and takes a route that involves walking into every shop first !)
Check this lightning out !
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Nice eh ? Being contained and delivered to me next Tuesday as an attractive wall display.
As ewe can see it is not taking a straight route ! Why does Lightning not strike in a straight line ?
Why's that then ?
I don't know...do ewe know ? I am going to keep pressing my neighbours doorbell until I get an answer !
Thanks
neil
Atmospheric Lawyer dealing In Lightning Litigation
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Well, the conductivity of air is not constant. Some regions of air are more conductive than others and lightening will seek out these regions.
Lightening does not strike 'all at once'. It is thought that it happens in steps of about 50metres and this is why you see the 'jagged' effect as each step passes through the 'channel' of least resistance.
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Are there not also a series of "feeders" that form on the nodes of the lightning bolt, and so mark the pathway that it has to take?
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Could be...not sure about that one.
Here's something from 'Scientific American' that deals with it in brief, but it doesn't go into much depth.
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=why-are-lightning-bolts-j
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Well, the conductivity of air is not constant. Some regions of air are more conductive than others and lightening will seek out these regions.
Lightening does not strike 'all at once'. It is thought that it happens in steps of about 50metres and this is why you see the 'jagged' effect as each step passes through the 'channel' of least resistance.
Hullo Bikerman [ Invalid Attachment ]
THANK EWE for this. Very Interesting...so, it' not the shortest route it takes but the route of least resistance. How does the lightning stuff know which way to turn ?...say, there was two paths of exactly the same resistance on either side of a high resistant zone.....would it split?
Ta Bikerman.
Me asky quwstion about lightning strike
Along comes a geeza on his bike
Reveals an answer that's fresh non moult
To aid the sheepy about lightning bolt !
Quality poemage there !
YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY !!!
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Well, I'm well out of my comfort zone, but I think the answer to that is yes - hence we see forked lightening ...
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Chris - you'll get used to Sheepie. Mad as a hatter, but quite harmless [:D]
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Well, I'm well out of my comfort zone, but I think the answer to that is yes - hence we see forked lightening ...
THANK EWE CHRIS ?
Ewe need never feel alone
In your discomfort zone !
I'm there most of the time when it comes to klevur stuff ! I see we have the estimable Doctor Beave to thank for your joining us here. Thanks Dr Beave. Chris is great !
YAYYYYYYYYYYYY !!
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Chris - you'll get used to Sheepie. Mad as a hatter, but quite harmless [:D]
....just following in the great doctors footsteps ! [;D] (No..Not Dr Frankenstein..Doctor Beaver..yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy !!)
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Chris has made some very erudite contributions to other forums (sorry, fora) I use so I thought he would be a good person to have here.
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Gawwd knows we need more scholarly peeps here !...something to counteract the girlies deficit !
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Forget that - he drinks REAL ALE!
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As a tea-totalling sheep..I've always been confused by the term ' real Ale'...does this mean that other ales are not real ?
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As a tea-totalling sheep..I've always been confused by the term ' real Ale'...does this mean that other ales are not real ?
Yes. They are virtual.
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As a tea-totalling sheep..I've always been confused by the term ' real Ale'...does this mean that other ales are not real ?
LOL...well, by definition anything in the 'lager' department is not an ale. Ales use a top fermenting yeast (ie it rises to the top during fermentation) at a higher temperature than most lagers. This gives a fruity taste (in conjunction with the all important hops).
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As a tea-totalling sheep..I've always been confused by the term ' real Ale'...does this mean that other ales are not real ?
LOL...well, by definition anything in the 'lager' department is not an ale. Ales use a top fermenting yeast (ie it rises to the top during fermentation) at a higher temperature than most lagers. This gives a fruity taste (in conjunction with the all important hops).
A Fruity taste eh ? Thank Ewe for the explanation Mr Bikerman. Do ewe think, that a real ale would be a gentle introduction into the ale/lager/beer fraternity for a tea-totaller like me ? The fact that it may be 'fruity' is somewhat appealing !
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Ideally this ale should be stored in a pyramidal fridge...
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Tutankhamunale.JPG
Do the hieroglyphics say "do not drink and drive a chariot" [:)]
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A Fruity taste eh ? Thank Ewe for the explanation Mr Bikerman. Do ewe think, that a real ale would be a gentle introduction into the ale/lager/beer fraternity for a tea-totaller like me ? The fact that it may be 'fruity' is somewhat appealing !
Well, it's a very serious business drinking real ale. You first need to get yourself a nice cardigan and, preferably a duffel coat. Then you need to grow a beard and moustache. Finally you need to learn the specific gravity of a couple of hundred ales :-)
Seriously - you might like to try some of the Christmas ales that normally appear at this time of the year - normally very alcoholic though...
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Here's a nice littrle Christmas ale for you:-
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bottledbeer.co.uk%2Fphotos%2Fitchen_fx.jpg&hash=9b601b8fbb81745b1c8cde0a2a832c76)
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Here's a nice littrle Christmas ale for you:-
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bottledbeer.co.uk%2Fphotos%2Fitchen_fx.jpg&hash=9b601b8fbb81745b1c8cde0a2a832c76)
Are ewe sure that's not just a glass of Santas Christmas Wee ?
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Ideally this ale should be stored in a pyramidal fridge...
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Tutankhamunale.JPG
Do the hieroglyphics say "do not drink and drive a chariot" [:)]
Nice ale !!
After ewe imbibed a few are ewe supposed to crawl into the box in search of your Mummy ! ?
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A Fruity taste eh ? Thank Ewe for the explanation Mr Bikerman. Do ewe think, that a real ale would be a gentle introduction into the ale/lager/beer fraternity for a tea-totaller like me ? The fact that it may be 'fruity' is somewhat appealing !
Well, it's a very serious business drinking real ale. You first need to get yourself a nice cardigan and, preferably a duffel coat. Then you need to grow a beard and moustache. Finally you need to learn the specific gravity of a couple of hundred ales :-)
Seriously - you might like to try some of the Christmas ales that normally appear at this time of the year - normally very alcoholic though...
Thanks Bikerman....I may indulge in some Chrimbo festive Juice but if it's Christmassy it probably has stuff like Cinnamon, cloves and cardamon and Chrimbo flavours ! ..yuk !
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Ideally this ale should be stored in a pyramidal fridge...
[ Invalid Attachment ]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Tutankhamunale.JPG
Do the hieroglyphics say "do not drink and drive a chariot" [:)]
Nice ale !!
After ewe imbibed a few are ewe supposed to crawl into the box in search of your Mummy ! ?
If you drink too many you feel like your brain has been removed...
Occasionally embalmers would break the bone behind the nose,
and break the brain into small pieces in order that it could be pulled out through the nasal passage.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummy
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Thanks Bikerman....I may indulge in some Chrimbo festive Juice but if it's Christmassy it probably has stuff like Cinnamon, cloves and cardamon and Chrimbo flavours ! ..yuk !
No, nothing of the sort. You won't find any of that in a traditional Christmas ale.
A couple to look out for;
Santa's Nuts (Fox Brewery) - nutty and malty, luvverly.
Rudolph's Revenge (Cropton Brewery) - a proper bitter ale, nice hoppy finish.