Can we create artificial lightning?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the feasibility of creating artificial lightning, exploring both the theoretical and practical aspects of generating electric discharges similar to natural lightning. Participants examine the potential methods, challenges, and implications of such endeavors.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that artificial lightning can be created by placing two oppositely charged bodies in a medium that can be ionized, referencing the concept of "Dielectric Breakdown."
  • Others argue that while electric discharges can be created, no facility currently exists that can match the potential difference observed in natural storms, making large-scale artificial lightning impractical.
  • A later reply suggests that generating lightning as powerful as natural occurrences is theoretically possible for those with sufficient resources, though it would require significant power and infrastructure.
  • Participants mention the limitations of devices like Van de Graaff generators, noting that they cannot produce the same voltage or current as natural lightning.
  • Concerns are raised about the inefficiencies of harnessing artificial lightning for electricity generation, with some suggesting that the energy input would exceed the output.
  • Technical challenges are highlighted, including the risk of damaging wiring and the difficulties in storing the high current generated by lightning.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the feasibility and practicality of creating artificial lightning, with no consensus reached on the potential for effective electricity generation or the methods to achieve it.

Contextual Notes

Participants note significant engineering challenges, including the need for specialized equipment to handle the high currents and voltages involved, as well as the unpredictability and infrequency of lightning events.

johncena
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Can we create artificial lightning ?
 
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yea.. we can. By putting closely two oppositely charged bodies in such a medium that can be ionized into charges due to the electric field caused by the charged bodies. ( "Dielectric Breakdown")
 


We can create electric discharges, which is exactly what lightning is, but to my knowledge I don't think there's a facility on the planet that can create as large potential difference as is actually observed in a storm. I.e. to make lightning that is as powerful as 'real' lightning would require a facility that was too large and expensive to be worth it (especially since we can pretty much learn everything about more powerful lightning by studying weaker lightning)
 


Although if one really wanted to generate lightning as powerful as that observed in nature and was very, very rich I don't think there's anything preventing you. It's very simple to actually create lightning (big or small) the problem is you need to use a lot of power and, I assume, need a huge bank of capacitors.
 


Well the voltage of lightning is dependent on the length of the strike but, according to wikipedia, a typical strike can carry 30,000 amps. You're not getting that from a van der graaf generator
 


An average bolt of positive lightning can carry around a billion volts apparently. So ya. You need a thousand times the voltage of a van der graaf
 


Here's some lightning that's kinda "semi-artificial."

 
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Why can't we create electricity through this "artificial lightning"??
 
  • #10


johncena said:
Why can't we create electricity through this "artificial lightning"??

What would be the point? Due to inefficiencies in the generating system, the power required to create the artificial lightning is less than the power you could get out of it; you'd do better to just use the electrical source directly.
 
  • #11


johncena said:
Why can't we create electricity through this "artificial lightning"??

What is electricity? Do you mean usable electrical power such as is available from a utility?
 
  • #12


There are some major engineering problems involved. The amount of current to be harnessed would fry most standard gauges of wiring (the wires used in the experiments are vaporised). Getting a charge into a storage medium at that rate is also problematic, to say the least. A bank of batteries would fry. These difficulties, combined with the infrequency and unpredictability of lightning, make it very hard to harness in a way that wouldn't cost more than just generating it the "old-fashioned" way.
 

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