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From: davet@tsdiag.ccur.com (Dave Tiller N2KAU)
Newsgroups: rec.boats,sci.physics,sci.electronics
Subject: Re: St Elmo's Fire (was Re: Lightning)
Keywords: Induction, space charge, capacitance, and bulldrops ?
Message-ID: <1047@tsdiag.ccur.com>
Date: 20 Jul 90 18:23:12 GMT
References: <1990Jul18.111525.5749@ioe.lon.ac.uk> <2436@speedy.mcnc.org> <1990Jul19.210925.165@mlb.semi.harris.com>
Organization: Concurrent Computer Corp. Oceanport NJ
Lines: 25

In article <1990Jul19.210925.165@mlb.semi.harris.com> sjohnson@gumbee.mlb.semi.harris.com (Scott Johnson) writes:
-
-
-I, however, have heard enough of this nonsense! I didn't study E-mag and
-solid state physics this long to still be able to swallow these lines!
-
-I think maybe this 'lightning rods repel lightning' stuff was started as
-a cruel textbook joke to baffle physics students by some screwed up prof.
-
-CAN ANYONE COME UP WITH A REFERENCE?
-SURELY IF THIS 'STRANGE BUT TRUE STORY' IS FACT, THEN IT'S DOCUMENTED.
-i'D LIKE TO GET TO THE 'THEORY' BEHIND WHAT I CONSIDER VICIOUS
-RUMOURS ABOUT MY FAVORITE 'FIELDS'. :)

Popular Mechanics had an article on lightning protection for mountaintop
antenna installations.  It used giant mushroom shaped wire mesh structures
to avoid the point charge buildup so the lightning would hit the mushroom,
_not_ be deflected toward the antenna tower.  Unfortunately I can't provide
the chapter and verse, since it's been a few years, and my Pop Mechs are in
Va.  Anyone else read this article?
-- 
David E. Tiller         davet@tsdiag.ccur.com  | Concurrent Computer Corp.
FAX:  201-870-5952      Ph: (201) 870-4119 (w) | 2 Crescent Place, M/S 117
UUCP: ucbvax!rutgers!petsd!tsdiag!davet        | Oceanport NJ, 07757
ICBM: 40 16' 52" N      73 59' 00" W           | N2KAU @ NN2Z