Difference between revisions of "Ball lightning"
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| − | '''Ball lightning''' refers to mobile bright | + | '''Ball lightning''' refers to mobile bright [[sphere]]s sometimes observed during [[thunderstorm]]s. Most observations of ball lightning are made during thunderstorm activity, within a few feet of the ground. A typical ball lightning is about as big as an [[orange]] or grapefruit, and lasts a few seconds. Visual sightings are often accompanied by sound, odor, and permanent material damage.<ref>[http://istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/earthmag/magnQ&A4.htm NASA.gov]</ref> |
| − | Very similar, if not identical phenomena, occur in | + | Very similar, if not identical [[phenomenon|phenomena]], occur in [[submarine]]s due to [[electricity|electric]] discharge of [[direct current]] across a circuit breaker, and in high-power electrical equipment. Ball lightning is sometimes confused with St Elmo's Fire. St Elmo's fire is a corona discharge from a pointed conducting object, ''which must remain attached to a conductor'', and which usually lasts much longer than ball lightning. |
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[[Category:Science]] | [[Category:Science]] | ||
| + | [[Category:Electricity]] | ||
Latest revision as of 21:02, August 7, 2018
Ball lightning refers to mobile bright spheres sometimes observed during thunderstorms. Most observations of ball lightning are made during thunderstorm activity, within a few feet of the ground. A typical ball lightning is about as big as an orange or grapefruit, and lasts a few seconds. Visual sightings are often accompanied by sound, odor, and permanent material damage.[1]
Very similar, if not identical phenomena, occur in submarines due to electric discharge of direct current across a circuit breaker, and in high-power electrical equipment. Ball lightning is sometimes confused with St Elmo's Fire. St Elmo's fire is a corona discharge from a pointed conducting object, which must remain attached to a conductor, and which usually lasts much longer than ball lightning.