Lightning/electricity question

In summary, a dragon that generates an electrical charge would need to generate an opposite charge at it's target in order to shoot a bolt of lightning. If the target is sitting on a rubber or EPDM sheet, they may be immune.
  • #1
RJ Ashby
3
0
Okay- first off, I know enough science to sound like an idiot, so please be gentle :-)

Now, IF you had a dragon that generated an electrical charge, it wouldn't be able to direct it, lightning-style, without being able to generate an opposite charge at it's target- right? So in essence, to shot a bolt of lightning, the dragon would have to create a charge in the ground or on it's target, and charge itself at the same time- right?

If the above is right, then would a target, particularly a person, sitting on a rubber or EPDM sheet, be immune to this discharge?

Or alternatively, would the target be best to hide in a Faraday Cage?

This is all for a post-apocalypse sci-fantasy sort of thing, so I don't mind rewriting some rules of physics, but not outrageously so.

Thank you so much in advance!
 
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  • #2
RJ Ashby said:
a dragon that generated an electrical charge
It flies, it picks up plenty of static charge ---- remember the scene in Red October?
RJ Ashby said:
post-apocalypse
Plenty of gamma sources around, build those into the beast's diet/metabolism in some sort of lead shielded tonsils. Open mouth leak a little gamma radiation along path to target, ionizing enough air to start the static discharge, and blast. Could be made plausible.
RJ Ashby said:
best to hide in a Faraday Cage
There's a thread in Classical Physics about lightning and automobiles discussing just this point.
 
  • #3
Excellent- very handy info to get started with! Thanks
 
  • #4
Check this out for some lightning dynamics.
Assuming the dragon is flying, the lightning will preferentially hit taller conductive objects.
Both people on insulators and people in cages would be protected to some extent. The former would not likely get targeted, and the latter would channel the energy around the person. The dragon wouldn't really be able to aim.

This is the behavior in a strongly collisional regime. In a weakly collisional regime, such as a near vacuum, you can get a beam of electrons, as in a cathode ray, and you can direct the beam in any direction you want.
 
  • #5
Very useful- thank you!
 

1. What causes lightning?

Lightning is caused by an imbalance of electric charges within a thunderstorm cloud. As the storm moves and develops, the positive and negative charges within the cloud separate, with positive charges gathering at the top of the cloud and negative charges gathering at the bottom. When the difference in charges becomes large enough, a lightning strike occurs to balance out the charges.

2. Is lightning always attracted to the tallest object?

No, lightning is not always attracted to the tallest object. While tall objects such as trees, buildings, and lightning rods can act as lightning rods and attract strikes, lightning can also strike the ground or other objects that are not the tallest in the area. This is because lightning is attracted to the path of least resistance, which can be influenced by factors such as the shape and material of an object.

3. What is the difference between cloud-to-ground and cloud-to-cloud lightning?

Cloud-to-ground lightning is a discharge of electricity that occurs between a thunderstorm cloud and the ground. It is the most common type of lightning and can be extremely dangerous. On the other hand, cloud-to-cloud lightning is a discharge that occurs between two different thunderstorm clouds. It is less common and usually occurs within the same storm system.

4. What should I do during a lightning storm?

The safest place to be during a lightning storm is inside a sturdy building or a hard-top vehicle. Avoid open areas, tall objects, and metal objects. If you are caught outside, crouch down low on the balls of your feet, with your feet close together and your hands covering your ears. Do not lie flat on the ground. Also, avoid using electronic devices or plumbing during a storm, as they can conduct electricity.

5. Can lightning strike the same place twice?

Yes, lightning can strike the same place multiple times. In fact, tall buildings and structures are often struck by lightning multiple times due to their height and shape. However, the chances of being struck by lightning personally are extremely low, as lightning tends to strike the tallest object in the area rather than a specific individual.

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