2006-07-30 02:17:31 · 8 answers · asked by savvy s 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
it is not possible because there is only collision of charges and it has nothing to do with nuclear reactions
AND NUCLEAR FUsSION NEED HIGH TEMP TO FUSE WHICH IS NOT PROVIDED BY THUNDER STORMS
2006-07-30 02:54:42 · answer #1 · answered by vickydevil000 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Lightning bolts reach temperatures of up to 5,500 degrees C, which is not even close to the temperature where hydrogen starts to spontaneously fuse. (Hydrogen is the easiest element to do fusion reactions). Hence fusion cannot occur in lightning.
Fission reactions may occur in lightning bolts, but not because of the jolt. Lightning involves accumulated charges (surplus or deficit of electrons), whereas fission is due to the nucleus' lack of stability. Electric charges play no part in fission, and the energy lightning possesses is still not enough to induce small scale fission. Instead they are due to the natural fission reactions that take place in the atmosphere everyday, which is due to naturally-present, small, dust-like radioactive particles in the atmosphere; radon (the radioactive inert gas, this undergoes fission as well); and radioactive fallout from nuclear weapons tests that still has not reached the earth's surface.
2006-07-30 02:44:52 · answer #2 · answered by dennis_d_wurm 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
These processes do not occur in lightning. If they did, there would be easily noticed signatures such as neutron radiation and elements in the debris that were not present to start with. Since these things are not seen, and the energies present are not high enough to cause either to happen, we can safely conclude that it does not happen.
Consider that if lightning did produce nuclear reactions, things near lightning would be radioactive and over time, a large amount of radioactive material would be present in the air and soil.
2006-07-30 03:30:18 · answer #3 · answered by aichip_mark2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a physicist or anything, but I find this an interesting question! The energy levels present may in fact be doing some very interesting things. I've heard that lightening creates ozone. Which is 3 oxygen atoms combined. But I wonder what else is happening within the bolt itself.
Why else would God have made it so common. I bet important environmental processes are occuring.
2006-07-30 02:20:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably not. lightning only heats air to about 30,000 degrees C. fusion requires millions of degrees C, and fission needs heavy elements like uranium etc.
so i don't think it would be possible, and i'd expect that for the same reason very few (if any) tests have been done
it's a very interesting idea though....
2006-07-30 02:22:29 · answer #5 · answered by visionary 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The temperatures required to initiate Fusion are more than 1000000°C
The temperature of a lightning bolt can reach 30000°C only
SO FUSION AND FISSION ARE IMPOSSIBLE THERE
2006-07-30 02:29:30 · answer #6 · answered by Prakash 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think lightning is hot enough.
OK now that I said that I see someone else had the same idea. Read the answer above mine.
Lightning causes chemical reactions not nuclear reactions. It is how we get ozone.
2006-07-30 02:23:37 · answer #7 · answered by goose1077 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We know how many volts in lightning (50,000, I think?) and if that's enough to cause fission. Pretty sure it's too weak.
2006-07-30 02:21:39 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋