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0 pointsnomilk1d ago0 comments

That 7 second video of a small rocket shot into a cloud to induce a lightning strike (about half way down the article) is incredible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BJIiX9_c_M

Any ideas why the lightning strike appears mostly green (and momentarily purple and orange)?

0 comments

postalcoder22h ago

Copper emits a green-blue light in the flame test https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwsexjcROH4

CGMthrowaway17h ago

Why don't we do this on the norm and somehow harness the energy?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvesting_lightning_energy

kjkjadksj16h ago

Prize is too low. Says it only delivers 38 gallons of gas equivalent energy, assuming no loss which there will be.

margalabargala14h ago

There are some places that are hit by lighting with high regularity where it might make sense. Lightning rods on tall buildings. Somewhere near here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catatumbo_lightning

innis22620h ago

The surrounding air becomes ionized. Since Earth’s atmosphere is mostly nitrogen, and ionized nitrogen often emits a purple glow.

deepandmeaning1d ago

I'm imagining it's something related to the copper wire.

teh_infallible1d ago

I always wanted to replicate this with a helium balloon and a long, wet string coated with copper filings.

batch1223h ago

You'd probably need a very large balloon to overcome the weight of the string

CamelCaseCondo23h ago

Maybe just salt water and skip the filings?

CamperBob217h ago

Even better, use hydrogen!

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