St. Elmo's Fire what is that?

Answer 1

Physically, St. Elmo's fire is a bright blue-white glow, appearing like fire in some circumstances, often in double or triple jets, from tall, sharply pointed structures such as masts, spires and chimneys, and on aircraft wings.

It is named such because the phenomenon commonly occurs at the mastheads of ships during thunderstorms at sea, and St. Elmo is the patron saint of sailors. Benjamin Franklin correctly observed in 1749 that it is electric in nature. It is said that St. Elmo's fire can also appear from the tips of cattle horns during a thunderstorm, or sharp objects in the middle of a tornado.

(source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Elmo%27s_fire)

Physically it is a postive charge which builds up when two materials are moved fast against each other and then discharges against other materials: you create this if you pull a shirt - which is made out of plastics - over your head: some sparks fly and it gives this distinctive sound ("crackeling")

Answer 2

St. Elmo's fire is the effect of the sun's ions interacting with the Earth's magnetic field and the resulting effects of light dancing about in a sailing ship's rigging in extreme northern and southern latitudes.

Answer 3

On the other hand,
St Elmo's fire is and electrical display usually associated with sailing ships. Caused by a build up of positive charges. It's really neat, not dangerous in itself, but it my draw a rather large negative charge of electrons from the sky.

Answer 4

Some people refer to this as the phenomenon just before of after a lightning strike. Its my understanding that it doesn't even happen with every lightning strike. However, lightning occurs due to a build up of static electricty. The energy created and released may not instantly go into the earth. I believe I saw it once when an unexpected storm came up on our boat. There was a serious of glowing arcs across the rigging.

Answer 5

It's the greenish blue glow that is visible on and around an object just before it gets struck by lightning.

It's also what happens to a guy right before I attack him :)

Answer 6

St.Elmo's fire is the name of the resturant that five friends, who grew up together, go there to get together.. (Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Emilo, and two others)

Answer 7

an movie from the 80's starring the Brat Pack.

Answer 8

I barely remember, it was in my 4th grade text book, something about lightniing striking near a plane, it started glowing, thats all I remember.