The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-03-21

nected with string, he raised it on the sp.
proach of thunderstorm. A key was at
tached TO the lower end of the hempen string
holding the kite, and to this one end of d
silk ribbon was tied, the other end being
fastened to post the Kite was now insula-'
ted, and the experimenter awaited for con-
siderable time the result with great solici.'
tude finally, indications Of electricity began
TO appear on the string and on franklin pre-.
senting his knuckles to the key, he raised
an electric spark the rain beginning to de-
scend wet the string, increased it's conduct
ing powers, and vivid sparks in great abund;
ance flashed from the key.
Why wss the kite insulated when Frank
lin fastened the key to the post by the silk
ribbon Because the silk was a non-con-
ductor, and would not slow the electricity
received upon the kite to pass of by means
Of the string to the ground.
Was this experiment one Of great danger
and rick ! 1t was, because the whole amount
| of electricity contsined 10 the thunder-cloud
was lioble to pass from it by means of the
string to the earth, notwithstanding the use
n of the silk insulator.
# What happened when the experiment was
!, repeated in France Streams of electric
c fire, nine and ten feet in length and an inch
in thickness, dArted spontaneously with loud
q reports from the end of the string confiniDg
is the kite During the succeeding year, Prof.
r Richmao, of St. Petersburg, in making ex.
= pcriments somewhat similar, and having his
J. spparatus entirely insulated, was instantly
- killed.
h Is a building more or less liable to be
= struck when furnished with good lightning
- conductor! ! Lightning conductors do not,
le as msny suppose, conduct the lightning to.
in wards the building upon which they are
= placed they simply direct its course and ia
sy cilitOse the passage Of the fluid in the most
nd direc, way to the earth, when only dis-
ee charge must inevitably occur there is no
sttraction, but lightning takes the road which
'r" offers the least resistance.
N. Are lightning conductors protective when
E. even no yissble discharge takes place =
he They are. They possess very great pre-
c. ventiye power, ard gradually and silently
d, disarm the clouds by drawing the electric
rSt fluid from them, and this process commences
he as soon as the clouds have approached po
ion sition vertically over the rod. Prof. Farada.
D." recommends the location of lightning con
es. tuctors inside rather th-n on the outside o
'u- buildings, and says that the lower end shoul
'of. be set into powdered charcoal.
sx. What is the cause of a red sunset i! Th
in por Of the air not being actually condense
s o. iato clouds, but only on point Of bein
en- condensed. In the same manner, If light
hey transmitted through steam mingled with al
ope and therefore on the verge of condensatio
md it assumes deep orange or ed color.
Use What is the cause of a red sunrise? IT
to vepor in the upper regions of the air is ju
on the point of being condensed.
Why is red sunset an indication of fiji
00' day to morrow ? Because, although watel
tent vapor is in the Dir, it is probably only on Il
The verge of lnciPient condensation, and not gu
ket. fciently 80 to form rain clouds; and th
d to slowly progressive transition of vast volum
.zed Of the air through the temperature of Il
fra dew point, can only occur in serene wealth
ure, at sunset and not at sunrise.
sub. Why is a red and lowering sky at sunri
eIe an indicetion of wet day! The red al
ona, lowering appearance Of the morning 81
Gets. which indicates ioui "eather Proosoly INC
neft Gates such ou excess of vapor being prese
yous in the wkole atmosphere, that clouds
N to actually forming in the higher regions
call upon the polnt OF condensation "hich
lies, ris ng sun cannot disper'e'