Lightning

[Rick Jansen]

Tony Allgood wrote:
> 
> But as for AC... the very large rate of change in the electric field due
> to the strike generates very wide band AC in any conductor. I guess the
> current generates a magnetic field too. Hence, the clicks, and spots you
> hear and see on TV screens during strikes.

The discharge ionizes the air, making the discharge visible. Maybe this 
ionization causes the crackles and pops on TV and radio, not the current 
of the discharge itself? Marconi used a spark transmitter for his first 
experiments with radio using Rhumkorff induction coils? Was it the current
of the discharge directly causing the EM waves? (Gee, as an EE I should 
know this, been playing with computers too long :-)
 
Rick Jansen
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rja at euronet.nl    http://www.euronet.nl/~rja
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S&H's a module and s&h's looking good