Re: [Phys-L] When lightning strikes the ocean...

[brian whatcott <betwys1@sbcglobal.net>]

I enjoyed this comic-book style response, but I suspect some on this 
list are unfamiliar with electro-fishing.   The red-neck's preferred 
equipment is a telephone magneto (that  handle thingy  on the side of an 
old, old telephone box)
The 80 volt AC source is dropped in the lake or river.  The resulting 
stunned fish floating to the surface say nothing useful about the 
current  density in 3D.

Brian W

 2/8/2018 9:51 PM, Paul Nord wrote:
> https://what-if.xkcd.com/156/
>
> On Thu, Feb 8, 2018 at 6:06 PM, Derek McKenzie <derek@physicsfootnotes.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I am trying to understand (i.e. reconcile with established
> > electromagnetic theory) what happens when lightning strikes the surface
> > of a large body of water, such as an ocean. It appears that empirically
> > the field/current dissipate mostly radially along the surface of the
> > water, while only a small amount of energy makes its way vertically
> > below the surface.
> >
> > I have searched high and low for an authoritative model, but to no
> > avail. Some invoke the Faraday Cage principle, whilst others invoke the
> > Skin Effect, but nothing terribly compelling.
> >
> > Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Derek McKenzie
> > PhysicsFootnotes.com
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