CrowdScience Electricity from Lightning
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Nov 7, 2016 Rhys Phillips, a research engineer at Airbus Group Innovations, dives into the electrifying world of lightning. He discusses the potential to harness power from lightning and shares insights on how modern aircraft are designed to withstand strikes. The conversation highlights historical experiments, like Franklin's kite, and explores the challenges of capturing lightning energy. Marnie Chesterton joins him in a lightning lab, revealing the engineering feats that protect planes and the realities of turning nature's fury into a viable energy source.
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Franklin's Lightning Kite Experiment
- Benjamin Franklin famously tried to prove lightning is electricity by flying a kite with a metal key in a storm.
- This experiment was dangerous, and had lightning struck, Franklin likely would have been killed.
How Lightning Strikes
- Lightning forms by a buildup of negative charge in clouds and positive charge on the ground.
- When conductive pockets of air connect these charges, a lightning strike completes the circuit.
Making Mini Lightning in Lab
- The Morgan Botti Lightning Lab in Cardiff creates tiny three-inch lightning arcs to test aircraft materials.
- Lab staff ejoy making lightning safely every day as part of their work.