Is it electric charge or only the friction?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the generation of fire through friction, specifically the use of stones versus more advanced methods like flint and steel. Participants clarify that while rubbing stones may produce heat, effective fire-starting techniques historically relied on friction methods such as the bow drill used by Native Americans. Additionally, the conversation highlights the role of flint on flint and flint on steel in producing sparks, which are more reliable for igniting fire. The historical context of fire generation methods is also explored, indicating a progression from natural sources like lightning to human-created techniques.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of friction-based fire-starting techniques
  • Knowledge of historical fire generation methods
  • Familiarity with flint and steel fire-starting
  • Basic principles of static electricity and heat transfer
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the bow drill technique for fire starting
  • Learn about the properties and uses of flint and steel in fire generation
  • Explore the historical context of early fire-making methods
  • Investigate the role of natural fire sources, such as lightning and volcanic activity
USEFUL FOR

Survival enthusiasts, historians, educators, and anyone interested in primitive fire-starting techniques and the evolution of human ingenuity in fire generation.

jayeshtrivedi
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Hi all,

When we rub two stones and get a spark , is there any chance of static charge accumulation or it is just the mechanical energy of friction is transferred in form of heat energy.

Thanks in advance.

Jayesh.
 
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Hi,

Thanks and sorry for late reply.

But what I am asking is that in primitive stage of civilization human being are generating fire by rubbing the stones only.

I am asking for this phenomenon.
 
Native Americans used a bow to twirl a wooden rod against another piece of wood with a matching hole; friction would heat the wood. When they judged it was hot enough they would drop in small pieces of dry material which would easily catch fire; this was then transferred ...

see http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/survival/fire/bowdrill/pmoc/basicbowdrill.html

This is a friction technique.

I am not familiar with the use of stones for starting fires - except for flint and iron.

If you can provide a good reference, I can determine how the fire was started.
 
I am not familiar with the use of stones for starting fires - except for flint and iron.

That's ok for back to the iron age. But going back further than that required other methods

It seems the Nth American Indian method of a "wood drill has been around for a much longer time.

There's a severe lack of online info on the subject. First uses of fire seem to have been thought to have come from lightning started fires and volcanic sources.
I read that there are hints of flint on flint as a started as well as a result of the seeing the sparks created by the "carving" of flint tools

a bit of a digression from the original post but it would be great for a topic in another part of the forum if we had any anthropologists at PF ?? :smile:

cheers
Dave
 

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