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Silent Lightning
Moderators: AmyCowen, kgudger, bfinio, MadelineB, Moderators
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jbrox188
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sun Dec 30, 2007 5:36 pm
- Occupation: Student
- Project Question: What is silent lightning and how/why is it dangerous?
- Project Due Date: January 2, 2008.
- Project Status: I am conducting my research
Silent Lightning
Does anyone know what silent lightning is and how/why it is dangerous?
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deleted-139256
- Former Expert
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:38 pm
Re: Silent Lightning
Hi jbrox,
A quick google search returned the following links which may be of help: http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/e ... ning.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_lightning
From what I gathered silent lightning is lightning without the accompanying thunder. The first explanation I found for this lack of thunder is that the lightning is simply too far away to be heard, meaning its probably not terribly dangerous to the observer who can't hear it. The second(more interesting one) is that the sound refracts( bends around or away) from the observer. This is caused by varying densities of the air, which is turn caused by temperature gradients between hot and cold regions. The way the sound waves bend is analogous to the way light bends when goes through different mediums. If you are unfamiliar with this topic this link should discuss light refraction : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refraction.
I hope I was of some help. Please feel free to post any further questions you may have.
Phiunit
A quick google search returned the following links which may be of help: http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/e ... ning.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_lightning
From what I gathered silent lightning is lightning without the accompanying thunder. The first explanation I found for this lack of thunder is that the lightning is simply too far away to be heard, meaning its probably not terribly dangerous to the observer who can't hear it. The second(more interesting one) is that the sound refracts( bends around or away) from the observer. This is caused by varying densities of the air, which is turn caused by temperature gradients between hot and cold regions. The way the sound waves bend is analogous to the way light bends when goes through different mediums. If you are unfamiliar with this topic this link should discuss light refraction : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refraction.
I hope I was of some help. Please feel free to post any further questions you may have.
Phiunit
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jbrox188
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sun Dec 30, 2007 5:36 pm
- Occupation: Student
- Project Question: What is silent lightning and how/why is it dangerous?
- Project Due Date: January 2, 2008.
- Project Status: I am conducting my research
Re: Silent Lightning
Phiunit,
The second link you gave was about heat lightning. Are heat lightning and sound lightning the same thing? Also, I'm trying to figure out which type of lightning is the most dangerous for a science fair paper, do you know any other types that seem particularly destructive?
Jessica
P.S. Thank you sooo much for responding. It means a lot that someone actually read my question and took the time to research and help me anwer it.
The second link you gave was about heat lightning. Are heat lightning and sound lightning the same thing? Also, I'm trying to figure out which type of lightning is the most dangerous for a science fair paper, do you know any other types that seem particularly destructive?
Jessica
P.S. Thank you sooo much for responding. It means a lot that someone actually read my question and took the time to research and help me anwer it.
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deleted-139256
- Former Expert
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:38 pm
Re: Silent Lightning
Hi Jessica,
I believe the primary difference between heat lightning and silent lightning is one of terminology and not a fundamental scientific difference. Silent lightning probably corresponds to the 1st explanation I gave where the lightning strike is far away in distance. The wiki article I posted noted the heat lightning was kind of a misnomer. The categorization is not exact but it seems heat lightning would correspond to lighting in which you can't hear the thunder because of the refraction. I'm not sure whether a certain type of lightning might be more "lethal" than another since they rely on the same fundamental process. The amperage(amount of electricity coming down) and voltage ( energy difference between the sky and earth) probably determine the lethality. Reading more about the lightning process might help.I have attached a link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning. Investigating heat lightning(the one associated with refraction) sounds interesting though. Also ,what do you plan on testing? Working with the high voltages needed to create "lightning" might not feasible and more importantly not safe. If you could, under proper supervision, use an electric arc device it might be able to creat the spark needed.
I believe the primary difference between heat lightning and silent lightning is one of terminology and not a fundamental scientific difference. Silent lightning probably corresponds to the 1st explanation I gave where the lightning strike is far away in distance. The wiki article I posted noted the heat lightning was kind of a misnomer. The categorization is not exact but it seems heat lightning would correspond to lighting in which you can't hear the thunder because of the refraction. I'm not sure whether a certain type of lightning might be more "lethal" than another since they rely on the same fundamental process. The amperage(amount of electricity coming down) and voltage ( energy difference between the sky and earth) probably determine the lethality. Reading more about the lightning process might help.I have attached a link:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning. Investigating heat lightning(the one associated with refraction) sounds interesting though. Also ,what do you plan on testing? Working with the high voltages needed to create "lightning" might not feasible and more importantly not safe. If you could, under proper supervision, use an electric arc device it might be able to creat the spark needed.
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jbrox188
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sun Dec 30, 2007 5:36 pm
- Occupation: Student
- Project Question: What is silent lightning and how/why is it dangerous?
- Project Due Date: January 2, 2008.
- Project Status: I am conducting my research
Re: Silent Lightning
Phiunit,
My hypothesis is that different types of lightning behave in slightly different ways, resulting in some types being more dangerous then others. For example, I've found some information about anvil lightning, which "strikes out of an apparently cloudless sky". This type would be more dangerous because there would be no warning - it would just happen. Does that make sense? I wasn't planning on testing anything, just researching and coming to some sort of conclusion. According to my science teacher it's fine if our hypothesis is wrong, as long as we have enough information to back our final ideas on our topic. So you think that all the types of lightning would be generally the same in terms of how dangerous they are?
Jessica
My hypothesis is that different types of lightning behave in slightly different ways, resulting in some types being more dangerous then others. For example, I've found some information about anvil lightning, which "strikes out of an apparently cloudless sky". This type would be more dangerous because there would be no warning - it would just happen. Does that make sense? I wasn't planning on testing anything, just researching and coming to some sort of conclusion. According to my science teacher it's fine if our hypothesis is wrong, as long as we have enough information to back our final ideas on our topic. So you think that all the types of lightning would be generally the same in terms of how dangerous they are?
Jessica
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deleted-139256
- Former Expert
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:38 pm
Re: Silent Lightning
Jessica,
The idea you are investigating is quite interesting and I would probably agree with that "silent" lightning is potentially more dangerous because observers would be less aware they are caught in storm. However, the process of doing pure research and coming to conclusion resembles more of a research paper and less of a science fair project. Research/Hypothesis are definitely an important steps in the scientific method but they are often followed by experimentation(which is also the funnest part!!). It might be wise to check with your teacher that you are indeed not expected to do any sort of experimentation. But with regards to your reasoning about lightning I believe you would be correct, since individuals wouldn't have a chance to shield themselves from certain lightning strikes.
Phi-unit
The idea you are investigating is quite interesting and I would probably agree with that "silent" lightning is potentially more dangerous because observers would be less aware they are caught in storm. However, the process of doing pure research and coming to conclusion resembles more of a research paper and less of a science fair project. Research/Hypothesis are definitely an important steps in the scientific method but they are often followed by experimentation(which is also the funnest part!!). It might be wise to check with your teacher that you are indeed not expected to do any sort of experimentation. But with regards to your reasoning about lightning I believe you would be correct, since individuals wouldn't have a chance to shield themselves from certain lightning strikes.
Phi-unit
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jbrox188
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Sun Dec 30, 2007 5:36 pm
- Occupation: Student
- Project Question: What is silent lightning and how/why is it dangerous?
- Project Due Date: January 2, 2008.
- Project Status: I am conducting my research
Re: Silent Lightning
Phi-unit,
I'm sorry, I wasn't very clear, I am doing a research paper. For our science fair we have a choice between experiment, invention or research paper. I ended up comparing ball lightning, silent/heat lightning, and anvil lightning. I think I'm going to say that anvil lightning is the most dangerous because there are no clouds in the sky when it happens and it carries ten times the voltage of ordinary lightning. After that will be silent/heat lightning, because there is no thunder, and therefore no warning. Lastly will be ball lightning, because though it has the potential to be the most dangerous, very little is known about it. Does that seem like a valid order?
Jessica
I'm sorry, I wasn't very clear, I am doing a research paper. For our science fair we have a choice between experiment, invention or research paper. I ended up comparing ball lightning, silent/heat lightning, and anvil lightning. I think I'm going to say that anvil lightning is the most dangerous because there are no clouds in the sky when it happens and it carries ten times the voltage of ordinary lightning. After that will be silent/heat lightning, because there is no thunder, and therefore no warning. Lastly will be ball lightning, because though it has the potential to be the most dangerous, very little is known about it. Does that seem like a valid order?
Jessica
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deleted-139256
- Former Expert
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:38 pm
Re: Silent Lightning
Jessica,
Thanks for clarifying that it helps me help you. Your ordering seems valid except u should check your reasoning about ball lightning. Does not knowing about much ball lightning make it the least dangerous?
Reading a little bit about electricity, Ohm's law, and electrocution and including them in your paper could make it a lot more thorough. I have provided some links do take the time read them especially the lethality of shock section in the electrocution one.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_s ... of_a_shock
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohm%27s_Law Just read the intro and elementary description and use section
Please feel free to ask any questions you may have
Phi-unit
Thanks for clarifying that it helps me help you. Your ordering seems valid except u should check your reasoning about ball lightning. Does not knowing about much ball lightning make it the least dangerous?
Reading a little bit about electricity, Ohm's law, and electrocution and including them in your paper could make it a lot more thorough. I have provided some links do take the time read them especially the lethality of shock section in the electrocution one.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_s ... of_a_shock
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohm%27s_Law Just read the intro and elementary description and use section
Please feel free to ask any questions you may have
Phi-unit
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deleted-71447
- Former Expert
- Posts: 1019
- Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2005 11:43 am
- Occupation: Research Hydrologist
- Project Question: n/a
- Project Due Date: n/a
- Project Status: Not applicable
Re: Silent Lightning
Hi Jessica,
I agree with Phi-units excellent advice. I would also recommend that you clarify what you mean by "dangerous". Are you considering the risk that any random person would be struck, or the risk that a person who has been struck would die? Maybe you could consider both. Also, I think you should consider that some of your categories can overlap each other. The definition of "heat lightning" is related to the position of the observer relative to the lightning. If an observed is 15 km from an anvil lightning strike and can't hear the thunder, that anvil lightning would also be heat lightning.
Good luck!
Chris
I agree with Phi-units excellent advice. I would also recommend that you clarify what you mean by "dangerous". Are you considering the risk that any random person would be struck, or the risk that a person who has been struck would die? Maybe you could consider both. Also, I think you should consider that some of your categories can overlap each other. The definition of "heat lightning" is related to the position of the observer relative to the lightning. If an observed is 15 km from an anvil lightning strike and can't hear the thunder, that anvil lightning would also be heat lightning.
Good luck!
Chris