I understand that lightening has millions of volts and thousands of amps. I also understand that a bolt of lightening is 5 -15 times hotter than the sun. Do we have the technology to attract lightning and transform its electricity into usable power? If not, is it theoretically possible?
2006-07-07 14:56:44 · 8 answers · asked by earthsave 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
no
2006-07-07 15:00:07 · answer #1 · answered by lyndsey 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe use the energy from lightning to boil water and that turns turbines.
Have a grounded rod in a large boiler and hope lightning hits it. When lightening hits a tree the sap in the tree instantly boils causing the tree to explode.
Trying to capture the electrical power of lightning would be a waste but you can capture the potential energy and convert it into another form of energy is possible.
Just how much water can a single bolt of lightning boil?
2006-07-07 15:06:10 · answer #2 · answered by aorton27 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is possible and has been proven to work at Los Alamos during the cold war era. It was looked into being used as a power source for a weapon, go figure. However the only way to store and condition that kind of power was to use ultra large industrial grade capacitors... we we are talking hundreds and hundreds of them. They can absorb an absurd amount of power and then let it out over time. However the cost and size of this type of system isn't worth the benefits. Not to mention you tend to blow up quite a few of the capacitors before its stable enough to be absorbed.
2006-07-07 15:14:37 · answer #3 · answered by RocketScientist 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No because any battery we have now can not store power unless the power is put into it gradually, in terms of a recharge. A bolt of lightning I would think is just too fast and too strong to be able to fully harness it but I don't see what the problem would be in lighting up a light or a motor or something with it, that would blow up shortly thereafter. :)
2006-07-07 15:00:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe Theoretically it is possible!!! But, from the normal Physicists and others views, we have no way to store the Electricity. IT, would need to be used as it produced.
2006-07-07 15:03:16 · answer #5 · answered by Snaglefritz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not economically viable - there are many more efficient ways of producing clean energy.
2006-07-07 15:00:24 · answer #6 · answered by UNITool 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lightning lasts only a few seconds...
2006-07-07 15:00:57 · answer #7 · answered by baboon 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
theoritically possible? yes... Technology to do so? no...
2006-07-07 15:00:24 · answer #8 · answered by WhiteHat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋