Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-01-10
LIGHTNING STRIKES
10 RELIEVE THE ELECTRICAL TEN
SION OF THE ATMOSPHERE.

the flash Takes Place and Why-COn-
Quoting Currcnts-High Houses.
Now, as charge Of electricity has the
property of inducing another charge of
electricity Of an opposite KIM TO itself on
any Conducting matter near it, and as
the earth is composed Of what Is called
conduc'Ing matter, il follows that a
charged cloud sailing over the surface Of
The earth induces an opposite charge on
thc ground below. These two opposite
Charges, one OF positive the other Of
negative" electricity, tend, by another
weil known property Of electricity, to rush
toward each other and combine Hence
when they are able to overcome the resist
ance of the air between, which keeps
them apart, they leap together with flash
and crack, producing the familiar phe-
romena of thunder and lightning.
Sometimes another cloud floating near
The first one takes the place of the earth,
and then the lightning fash takes place
between them. Lightning OF this kind
does not strike the earth; but it might
have destructive effect on the latter for
all that, because il might give rise to the
"hack stroke" which is sometimes fatal
'n life. The ''back stroke is not due to
rather the reaction after the direct dis
charge has taken place elsewhere. Sup
pose, for example, that a track of upland
country, n rural district with trees, farms,
and here and there church dottiug it, is
covered by n thunder cloud. which induces
u charge OF electricity upon it. In order
ti5t the charge upon the earth may get
nearer To that upon the cloud. SO as to
c.f1,f.i,a IA 81, hos
wcil known property, will heap itself on
the most prominent and pointed objects Of
the landscape. That Is to say, it will ac-
oumulato on the trees, barns, chimney
tD1S and spires Of the district
The whole atmosphere Of the region Is
in u state OF tension and suspense The
bolt is trembling in the balance, but no
man knows where it will fall Presently
there is binding flash of light, the sky
i, rent with n lurid stream Of fire, and in
stantly the tension is relieved. The dis
charge has taken place a. one point. the
point which offers the path Of least resist
ance through the air, and at which the
electric tension was most critical. At
every other place where the electricity
hid seriously accumulated, there is con-
sequently sudden fall OF electric poten-
vi
rs it is called, a return stroke" This
instantaneous change is sometimes as
fatal rs the direct discharge. and it may
ruin building or destroy life several
miles from the scene of the fash The
return stroke is therefore more mysterious
and unexpected than the fash, but fatal
effects are comparatively rare from it
Nevertheless, since the latter have been
i
feel quite safe, although a thunder storm
with lightning is still several miles from
h m; the number of miles heing estimated
by counting the seconds which elapse be-
tween the flash and the peal, and allow
ing Il distance of four miles for every
second counted. He may feel safer than
If it were close upon him, but there is still
some room for fear.
In fact there is no real safety except
within the area properly protected by
lightning conductor, or in a building
which is itself protector, for instance u
sheet iron house. Every building, then,
should he protected in order to he safe.
In the country, where these are often
isolated, n lightning rod would be required
for each; but in towns one rod would
sometimes protect more than one house
around it, according To its height and con-
The flash takes place at the point OF
least resistance, because lt Is mere that the
two opposite electricitles can easiest rush
together But the eagerness with which
thcy tend 10 rush together Is another
thing to be considered. These two things
token together determine the discharge.
There may be less resistance 10 the hash
~ one house or tree than ut another, but
II The attraction between the opposite
eicctricit!es Is less AT the iormer. the Hash
may traverse The latter honse Hence
one cannot exactly say II one tree or
building VIII be safer than another There
Is great uncertainty, ana TINS Is u reason
for the instinc, OF awe ana uneasiness
which most animals fec! on the approach
OF n thunder storm.
In general, however, we can say that
high houses, or those perched on high
ground, are more likely 10 suffer from the
discharge than siii'iil low lying houses.
Ae former are therefore ali the more ell
Gole Tor protection; ana they are TO he
avoided III seeking shelter from a storm.
so are houses surrounded by trees, and
with ponds or pools OF water close beside
shem For trees act as imperfect light
rinS rods, having good earth connection,
anu especially II they are wet the dis
charge may strike the house IN order to
reach the ground through them, or, in the
case OF the pond, through the water. One
should not shelter Under trees OF any