Lightning in a bottle

For the discussion of the sciences. Physics problems, chemistry equations, biology weirdness, it all goes here.

Moderators: gmalivuk, Moderators General, Prelates

Post Reply
Spacegoat
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Oct 21, 2017 11:11 pm UTC

Lightning in a bottle

Postby Spacegoat » Sun Oct 22, 2017 12:30 am UTC

So I have a question for Xkcd or anyone who can help so suppose you have a charged atmosphere in a bottle with a constant influx of electrons to cause lightning. Would the contained lightning consume the atmosphere untill their is no reaction matter or would it be self sustained?
Top
User avatar
Zohar
COMMANDER PORN
Posts: 8220
Joined: Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:45 pm UTC
Location: Denver

Re: Lightning in a bottle

Postby Zohar » Sun Oct 22, 2017 5:57 pm UTC

If you're constantly providing it with external particles how can you call it self sustaining?
Mighty Jalapeno: "See, Zohar agrees, and he's nice to people."
SecondTalon: "Still better looking than Jesus."

Not how I say my name
Top
p1t1o
Posts: 865
Joined: Wed Nov 10, 2010 4:32 pm UTC
Location: London, UK

Re: Lightning in a bottle

Postby p1t1o » Mon Oct 23, 2017 8:04 am UTC

Arent you basically describing a discharge light bulb, eg: a "neon light" ?

Lightning is not a reaction per se. Although chemical reactions may take place due to the high energy load, they are not necessary for "lightning".
Top
User avatar
SDK
Posts: 645
Joined: Thu May 22, 2014 7:40 pm UTC
Location: Canada

Re: Lightning in a bottle

Postby SDK » Mon Oct 23, 2017 2:28 pm UTC

Yeah, nothing is "consumed" by the lightning. You should be able to keep it going indefinitely so long as you continue giving it enough energy to ionize the atmosphere inside.
The biggest number (63 quintillion googols in debt)
Top
User avatar
Eebster the Great
Posts: 3089
Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2008 12:58 am UTC
Location: Cleveland, Ohio

Re: Lightning in a bottle

Postby Eebster the Great » Tue Oct 24, 2017 1:58 am UTC

You could just put a Van der Graaf generator in a bottle, right? I'm not sure how this is different.
Top
User avatar
Sizik
Posts: 1215
Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2008 3:48 am UTC

Re: Lightning in a bottle

Postby Sizik » Tue Oct 24, 2017 2:03 pm UTC

Sounds like a plasma globe.
Image
gmalivuk wrote:
King Author wrote:If space (rather, distance) is an illusion, it'd be possible for one meta-me to experience both body's sensory inputs.
Yes. And if wishes were horses, wishing wells would fill up very quickly with drowned horses.
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Science”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests