Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1873-12-25

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Fthousandth part Of Q second. The fire.,
ballafo the contrary, are said to last for
at least several seconds. ~ 1}'a' ~ 70
! + We are indebted to an article iii Rod
Wells Dictionary of Science for the fol
lowing misunderstanding the APP
pearanees and properties of the various
kinds of, lightning above mentioned,
The first kind, namely, the zigzag fiash,
is seen frequently, though not SO COM
monty as the second and third kinds.
| What is seen is simply the line in which
the spark travels 1t is often of great
length, and is generally composed of a
number of straight lines Of fire, forming
with each other one continuous line, haatvv-.
ing several acute angles in 1t. This zig.
gag appearances may be observed on, a
small scale in taking long sparks from.
the prime conductor of q good electric
machine. The spark follows the linz of
least resistance, which is not generally
straight. In the second kind Of Iig 4
ming mentioned, the light is spread over a
large surface, instead Of being concentra-.
ted on single line. This kind is mos t
frequently seen. It is probable due to
the light of n spark which is. diffnsed
around and reflected, while the line oof
the spark itself is concealed. Heat
lightning, which is unaccompanied2 by1
thunder, generally consists Of pale flash
es near the horizon; and is often seen
even when no definite clouds are visible.
In some cases, it is due to distant storms,
too far off for The thunder to- be heard {;
the light of the flashes reaching the OBJ
server by reflection from clouds or mists.a
In some cases the light has been seen in
the zenith, and cannot be thus accounted !
for. Possibly these phe nomena are odu q
to discharges in the atmosphere ate very,
great heights Concerning the fre-balls, j
little seems TO be knpwns They fall slow
lyifrom the clouds to the earth the de,
sssafs rsis nsssS
are said often 10 rebound once OF twice
upon the ground, and afterwards to ex-l
ylodc with great violence: IT. is difficult
to account for such properties according,
to any known electric laws. .r.as
Its not easy to account for the for.
nation of lightning. 1t is generally
supposed that the small particles of aqu.
cous vapor which leave the earth, and
which are afterwards condensed to form
clouds, are electrified at the time of va;
porization, and perhaps in consequence
of its occurrence. These particles carry
their electricity away with them When
the cloud is formed they unite and form
molecules the union of which produces
drops. The latter are thus in state of
considerable electrifeation. 1t is pro-
bable that the interior particles, by
means OF internal discharges, throw a
portion of their electricity into the
periphery of the cloud; and when The
outside of the cloud has become very
powerfully electrified, discharge takes
place toward the earth, or toward mn
adjacent and opposite-elcctrifed cloud.
The external layer Of the cloud having
thus relieved itself, the little globules of
water again begin to discharge into each
other, their size, and the electric strain
at their external surfaces, NIL the time
increasing; for it is well known that, in
an electrified conductor, the electricity
is disposed in a fine layer at the cSteri-
or. Again, by series of internal dis
charges, the periphery of the cloud is
charged, and u second flash occurs Ger
taiu electroscopic experiments seem to
show that what has just been described
actually takes place, and that, for some
time previously to the flash, discharges
are occurring from part to part within
the cloud. ilo. {4-
lightning possesses the same proper
tics as the ordinary electric spark, exhib-
iting them with power propo. tional to
the enormous quantity ofelectricity which
is expended in the production of flash.
Its physiological effects are too frequent
ly recognised. When it strikes an ami
NAL 1t usually, though not always, pro-
Il j i Al. ~ I ~