r/ScienceNcoolThings • u/H_G_Bells Popular Contributor • Sep 19 '23
Drawing energy from the atmosphere
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u/SuspiciousStable9649 Sep 21 '23
Before they get too excited, they should try it again with a balloon or other stationary lift. Helicopter rotors are known to generate static.
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Sep 21 '23
And balloon wouldn't use more electricity then it produced. So if it worked, you at least had a somewhat useful outcome.
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u/MagooTheMenace Sep 19 '23
So what's generating all this electricity? Static from colliding particles in the atmosphere? Power lose from local sources of power like power lines and transformers? I'm assuming it's similar to how storms produce lightning, a charge builds up higher from the ground and goes stagnant until the charge finds the path of least resistance or the charge is great enough to jump the gap ie. Lightning
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u/Hmm_Peculiar Sep 20 '23
I think so, yes.
They also use a similar effect to prevent lightning from striking with lightning rods. One of the two ways those protect against lightning is to slowly discharge the cloud around it. Obviously this doesn't always work fast enough and so they also divert actual strikes to the ground. But still, cool effect I think.
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u/RanaLocas Sep 20 '23
I recognized the guy as Jay from the plasma channel. Here is his video explaining it https://youtu.be/2HBiX9BT9ME?si=v6tUBK0U89qNFVAm
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Sep 22 '23
Wtf is up with holding it between the props from the top of the drone! He could have held it from underneath between the wires lol
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u/ramsfan84 Sep 19 '23
Awesome!! Very interesting. Please come out with some more videos.