Triggering Lightning With A Cannon - Plausible or Not?

[Labtecpower]

Knallgas balloon for even moar awesomeness

Also: http://www.esdjournal.com/articles/lightn.htm

[PeteS]

I have been thinking about this, because I find it really interesting. I have a couple questions:
1. Would I be correct to assume that the wire can be quite thin as long as it does not break?
2. Does it need to be well grounded at the bottom end? If not does it need to even touch the ground?

What I am thinking is that the wire could possibly all be carried in the projectile and payed out as it goes up. If desired a little parachute could even be deployed at the desired altitude to keep the wire there for a while (the projectile could continue on its own). If the wire was not in contact with the ground it would drift down as the chute dropped.

[jrrdw]

What I am thinking is that the wire could possibly all be carried in the projectile

That's what I was thinking (posted on 1st page), and yea I think it has to be grounded being as how he's drawing the lightening to it.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

What I am thinking is that the wire could possibly all be carried in the projectile and payed out as it goes up.

That makes sense - at least it will be part of the initial projectile momentum.

[Brian the brain]

Here's a thought:

Try a high pressure bbmg ( or rather multiple packed snugly together) and launch coppercoated bb's straight up.

Using multiple bbmg's makes for a denser stream of bb's.

And then watch lightning jump the gaps.
It should follow the path of least resistance right?



As I said...it's just a thought...

[jrrdw]

Here's a thought:

Try a high pressure bbmg ( or rather multiple packed snugly together) and launch coppercoated bb's straight up.

Using multiple bbmg's makes for a denser stream of bb's.

And then watch lightning jump the gaps.
It should follow the path of least resistance right?



As I said...it's just a thought...

The only problem with that is it has to be a connected leed to the grounding point or the break creates a arc pop and the pressure would spread the BB's and lose the ground stopping the lightening. I don't know what the real name for the "arc pop" is, but it sure will split welding wire in half if it gets oxidized. I've had to pull it out of my whip with plyers because the welder won't push it through the whip, what a PITA that is...

[Brian the brain]

Hmm...I was hoping to spread the load..

How about launching two wires at different heights?
One above the other, both with half the required length of wire?
Just one gap to jump..

[jrrdw]

I doubt it, there needs to be a connection to start...

[Brian the brain]

doubt it, there needs to be a connection to start...

Oh well..

Thanks for en-lightning me..

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Oh come on this has to work!

[youtube][/youtube]

Look how close the BBs are together!

3000 psi straight from a SCUBA tank, 1/4" steel bearings that will carry further than 0.177"...

[dart guy]

I have started designing an ideal projectile everyone watch out

[jrrdw]

I have started designing an ideal projectile everyone watch out

Why do I get the feeling we're being...

[KurlyQ]

Hi All!

Couple quick insights:

balloons don't work, sadly...It needs to be a rapidly rising projectile. I had that thought before though!

Also, the bb idea is great. I'm not sure how it would work in practice though....It'd be amazing to see!

Here's a surface-level overview "guest lecture" that I feel does a good job of explaining basic lightning triggering. I have a few other peer-reviewed research papers that I've found online, but I like this one a lot:

http://www.iclp-centre.org/pdf/Invited- ... v-2010.pdf

I'm loving the discussion here!

[mobile chernobyl]

KurlyQ,

I remember reading that article a year or two ago and getting very intrigued - enough so to the point that I was seriously considering purchasing the conductive wire for the experiment.

If you live in an area with predictable storms I say go for it, just be safe of course - it's @#$%ing lightning after all haha. The rocket launch method really seems like the way to go - much gentler acceleration curve which, given the laying wire's inertia, would be more reliable and present less of a chance of wire breakage.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Also, the bb idea is great. I'm not sure how it would work in practice though....It'd be amazing to see!

You would need a large HPA cylinder, and one heck of a lot of BBs. Making the launcher would be feasible though not on a small budget, especially if 0.177" is insufficient and you need a larger caliber to reach the range you need.