2007-03-25 14:42:58 · 18 answers · asked by Katie S 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
Google up "chemtrails" if you are ready for a shocker to try and make sense of !!
These are not "contrails" !! And, they are definately not smoke !! Even though there IS a lot of Smoke about chemtrails-- it is in what they are telling and Not telling people about them !!!
2007-03-25 14:48:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
They are not so much smoke trails. What you see are actually called con trails. WHich are trails of condensed water. Like a trail of cloud. The change in air pressure created by the plane flying through the air causes the water to condense and leave con trails
2007-03-25 21:46:55 · answer #2 · answered by Filip D 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
On takeoff it is possible to see smoke trails. This caused by a huge amount of fuel being burned and not quite consumed. This has been greatly reduced by the newer engines. If seen it is black.
If you are talking about the white trails at altitude, it is a mixture of water vapor being heated by the engines and pressure differentials caused by the aircraft flying.
You must understand that these are hugely powerful beasts.
Anybody know how you get vapor trails in the super dry air at altitude?
Moisture in the fuel.
2007-03-29 11:48:25 · answer #3 · answered by Barry W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on what you are calling 'smoke trails'. Jet fuel is partly deisel fuel to lubricate spinning parts, so there is a little smoke trail on takeoff.
The high up trails, called contrails, are a product of the heated exhaust hitting the very cold air in upper atmospheres causing CONdensation that leaves steam TRAILS in the skys. Kind of like 'man-made clouds', I guess.
2007-03-25 21:54:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Exhaust is very hot right? So when it goes against the cold atmosphere, it cools down very quickly and makes the smoke trails.
2007-03-25 23:20:48 · answer #5 · answered by Leon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its condensation, much like what you get when you take a warm pair of glasses out into the cold air, and mositure forms on them. The warm jet exhaust condenses in the sky to form the vapor trails.
2007-03-25 21:45:55 · answer #6 · answered by Kerry 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
planes leave behind a trail same reason that you can see your breath on a cold day or car exhaust on a cold day. it's water vapor that comes from the back of the engine. the warm water vapor comes into contact with the cold air and it condenses/crystalises and leaves a white streak behind.
2007-03-26 13:02:30 · answer #7 · answered by mcdonaldcj 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When a hydrocarbon, such as kerosene burns, the result of the oxidation process produces water and carbon dioxide. There are other combustion products too, like sulphur dioxide.
The water vapor condenses because its very cold at 30 000 ft. It is these trails of water vapor that you can see.
2007-03-25 21:57:25 · answer #8 · answered by Cliff 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Think of it this way: why does your breath leave foggy vapour when you breath in cold temperatures outside in the winter? Planes travel at altitudes in cold temperatures so the warm exhaust from the engines mixes with the cold air and leaves a trial- just like your breath in cold winter weather.
2007-03-25 21:56:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not smoke it is a moisture trail just like your breath leaves when it is cold out.
2007-03-25 21:45:55 · answer #10 · answered by JAN 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you are seeing are called contrails. It is not smoke, it is condensation caused by the heat from the plane moving through the atmosphere at certain altitudes.
2007-03-25 21:46:30 · answer #11 · answered by dawnsdad 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋