Can lightning break diamond?

In summary, diamond is not a good conductor of electricity and therefore cannot be broken by lightning. Only materials that are good conductors of electricity can be broken by lightning due to the large current that flows through them. The amazing picture of lightning is real and was taken in the desert during a night-time thunderstorm. The photographer used filters and a long exposure to capture the image.
  • #1
Thallium
231
0
Can lightning break diamond..? :redface:
 
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  • #2
No, diamond is not a good conductor of electricity.


---------------
A useful site for chemistry resource
http://groups.msn.com/GeneralChemistryHomework [Broken]
 
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  • #3
Not even because of the force of the lightning? Can only materials that are good conductors of electricity break by lightning then?
 
  • #4
Thallium said:
Not even because of the force of the lightning? Can only materials that are good conductors of electricity break by lightning then?
I guess so. It is the large current that flows through an object that breaks is. So when you have got an insulator, no current will flow and no damage will be created.

By the way, I'm wondering whether this very nice picture of lightning is real.
It looks so amazing that I almost can not believe it's real:

:smile: :smile: :smile:
gene.wins.uva.nl/~skowalcz/lightning

Or click http://gene.wins.uva.nl/~skowalcz/lightning [Broken], but maybe that doesn't work :grumpy:
 
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  • #5
It did not work.. The page was babyblue.. Bbayblue lightning? :)
 
  • #6
Thallium said:
It did not work.. The page was babyblue.. Bbayblue lightning? :)
Then you should just copy this link

gene.wins.uva.nl/~skowalcz/lightning

and paste it in a new window. That works for sure.
 
  • #7
thats an awesome pic! where was it taken?
 
  • #8
A buddy of mine did a lot of photography. When he went out to Vegas, he went into the desert during a night-time thunderstorm. He mounted his camera rigidly, and left the shutter open. It looks like someone else did that for the pic, but maybe they stuck some filters in for a few different shots. I think the peak output of a lightning strike is in the UV.

Njorl
 

1. Can lightning actually break a diamond?

Yes, lightning can break a diamond. Diamonds are not indestructible, despite their reputation for being the hardest natural substance on Earth. Diamonds can shatter or chip when subjected to extreme force or pressure, such as a lightning strike.

2. How does lightning break a diamond?

When a bolt of lightning strikes the ground, it releases a tremendous amount of energy in a short amount of time. This energy can cause the diamond to heat up and expand rapidly, creating stress and pressure within the diamond. This pressure can cause the diamond to crack or shatter.

3. Is it common for diamonds to be damaged by lightning?

No, it is not common for diamonds to be damaged by lightning. Lightning strikes are relatively rare, and most diamonds are not exposed to them. Additionally, diamonds are often found deep within the Earth's surface, where they are not likely to be struck by lightning.

4. Can diamonds protect against lightning strikes?

No, diamonds cannot protect against lightning strikes. While diamonds are good conductors of heat, they are not good conductors of electricity. This means that diamonds do not provide any protection against lightning strikes and can still be damaged by them.

5. Has there been any documented cases of diamonds being damaged by lightning?

Yes, there have been some documented cases of diamonds being damaged by lightning strikes. In 2017, a woman in South Africa reported that her diamond engagement ring was shattered after being struck by lightning. However, these cases are rare and do not happen often.

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