[pct-l] Lightening Rods....

[Daniel Bailey]

I am smiling as I realize that I made a simple mistake of proportions.  Of
course the current is less when the resistance is higher (given that voltage
is held constant).

Thank you for the clarification. :)

Be well,

Senator

On Dec 31, 2007 5:24 PM, Bob and Diana Nelson <benelson at ktc.com> wrote:

>  The higher the resistance the less the current. This means that the
> current in an aluminum rod should be higher than the titanium rod. I agree
> with you that at the voltage of lightening either material will pass a lot
> of current. I believe the whole lightening phenomenon is complex and not as
> well understood as we think it is. For instance the shape of the top of the
> rod may be more important than the material. Lightening rods are sharp for a
> reason.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> *From:* pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:
> pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]*On Behalf Of *Daniel Bailey
> *Sent:* Monday, December 31, 2007 4:46 PM
> *To:* Greg Kesselring
> *Cc:* pct-l at backcountry.net
> *Subject:* Re: [pct-l] Lightening Rods....
>
> 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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