[pct-l] Lightening Rods....

[Daniel Bailey]

I stand corrected!  This makes sense given that the majority of high end
cookware has a copper base.  At the same time, there have been a few times
where I've used a titanium mug and found the surface too hot to drink from
only to set the mug down and find that my drink is cold a few minutes later.

With the higher resistance of titanium, applying Ohms law (voltage = current
* resistance) leads me to expect that the current across a titanium rod
would be higher than an aluminum rod.  And it's electric current that kills,
not the voltage as some would believe.

Of course, given the high voltage in a typical bolt of lightening, the
current through either an aluminum or titanium rod would be more than I'd
voluntarily withstand.

Be well,

Senator

On Dec 31, 2007 12:43 PM, Greg Kesselring <gkesselr at whidbey.com> wrote:

>  According to this website, Titanium is much LESS conductive than
> aluminum, only about 10 percent as conductive.  Still, as you say, I would
> not want to poke a titanium tent stake into an electrical outlet as an
> experiment.
>
> http://www.key-to-metals.com/Article122.htm
>
> Here's what they say about it and some other metals:
>
> *Electrical Conductivity and Resistivity.* The flow of electrons through a
> metal due to a drop in potential is known as electrical conductivity. The
> atomic structure of a metal strongly influences its electrical behavior.
>
> Titanium is not a good conductor of electricity. If the conductivity of
> copper is considered to be 100%, titanium would have a *conductivity of
> 3.1%*. From this it follows that titanium would not be used where good
> conductivity is a prime factor. For comparison, stainless steel has a
> conductivity of 3.5% and *aluminum has a conductivity of 30%*.
>
> Electrical resistance is the opposition a material presents to the flow of
> electrons. Since titanium is a poor conductor, it follows that it is a fair
> resistor.
>
>
> Daniel Bailey wrote:
>
> > Question:  Does anyone know if Titanium is any safer than any other
> metal during a lightening storm??
>
> Titanium is more conductive than aluminum, which is what many trekking
> poles are made of.  With regards to lightning, I wouldn't classify any metal
> trekking pole as being safer than any other type.
>
> Think of it this way, would you stick any type of trekking pole into an
> electric socket without expecting a shock?
>
> As it passes through the air, lightning is looking for the path of least
> resistance to the ground.  This path may be your trekking pole, your entire
> body, or even a wooden hiking stick that was picked up at the trail head.
> Most solid objects provide less resistance to air and this is why lightning
> will typically strike the tallest object in a given area.
>
>
>
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