lightningscientists

Lightning and Scientists

Benjamin Franklin suggested in a letter to the Royal Society that a man standing on a high tower and armed with an iron rod could pull down the electricity from a cloud. Since there was no convenient tower in Philadelphia, Franklin did not conduct the experiment. However in France Thomas Francois d'Alibard had an assistant draw long electrical sparks from a forty foot iron rod thus proving that thunderclouds were electrified. (Note that d'Alibard was smart enough to have an assistant draw the sparks!)

Meanwhile back in Philadelphia Franklin had figured a way around the tower and, before he heard of the success of the French experiment, he flew a kite and drew sparks from a key suspended from the kite string.

Word spread around the world and in Russia Professors Lomonosov and Richmann erected iron rods to draw electricity into their homes. An eye witness reported what happened to Richmann: The Professor judged the thunder to be far off and believed there was no Immediate danger,"Just then a palish blue ball of fire, as big as a fist, came out of the rod... it went right into the forehead of the professor who fell back without uttering a sound. At the very same moment followed a bang like the discharge of a small cannon." Richmann was dead and his death served as a warning to other lightning researchers. Lomonosov said," Mr. Richmann died a splendid death, fulfilling the duty of his profession."

In 1980 I was climbing on Tower one in Colorado. It had rained in the morning and the rock was wet, puffy cumulus clouds dotted the sky. I reached the top about noon having finished the most difficult climb of my life, up to that point. I raised my hands above my head in a shout for joy. Ten inch sparks danced on my fingertips, Saint Elmo's fire. As a scientist I probably should have stayed on the summit and experimented with Saint Elmo's fire for a while. Or at least paused to savor the fact that I had drawn sparks from the sky without the help of an iron rod. However I must admit that the thought of getting struck by lightning flashed across my mind and so, electing not to die a splendid death, I quickly lowered my hands and ran down the back of the mountain. I've never seen Saint Elmo's fire again.