james
join:2001-02-26
antarctica
1 edit | reply to jc100
Re: Farmers launching hydrogen?
I'm not sure how much hydrogen they have left in them when they come down, but if it's enough to cause some damage I'd be worried about it getting snagged on high tension power lines, tearing and an arc happening (how does hydrogen compare to air as a conductor?) or doing the same in one of those outdoor power distribution places.
I do think all of us must agree that if it blew up in the air (doesnt matter how), the most dangerous part would be the falling payload and not the explosion itself. |
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jc100
join:2002-04-10
| Pretty much. I'm not a scientist, I just remember College physics where I learned this stuff. Amazing I remember it, too. I guess I did pay attention, and this useless knowledge stays with you. As per the risk, yes its minimal. I mean all and all, there would have to be a lot of misfortune for such a disaster to occur. The biggest risk would be from the payload falling and striking someone or something. I mean I am sure that MAYBE one of these balloons can be under the rare conditions to explode. Most likely, it'd happen in the air as you said. If the balloon deflated and landed on a power line, I suspect it'd be fine. I am no expert but I THINK (and I might be wrong because I'm not the electrician in the family), that power lines themselves are not charged unless said wires are exposed. IE, what we see on the lines are wires within insulation. Therefore, the balloon would have to land or break a powerline, for such an event to occur. Being I doubt they are heavy, this is very unlikely. |
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james
join:2001-02-26
antarctica
| High tension power lines are not insulated, but the lines are kept very far apart to protect from arcing. A great number of the older residential area power lines have the insulation sloughing off, the leads going to the transformers (they look like garbage cans) are often exposed as well. It would be easier than you think to get a nice arc out of them, especially on a windy day, with something wrapped around them. |
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Vertickle
join:2003-08-05
Madison, AL | reply to jc100
So the answer is both?
P.S. I don't plan of quiting my day job. It affords me time to read what stupid people post on internet forums.  |
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bcoleman71
join:2007-09-18
Dallas, TX
1 edit | reply to jc100
I know this is OT, but your facts are wrong. The bomb in WW2 was a FISSION bomb made by SPLITTING atoms of Uranium 235. The Hydrogen bomb is a FUSION bomb, made by FUSING two hydrogen atoms together.
--Edit for clarity |
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Yauch
join:2005-06-24 | reply to jc100
Good thing there isn't much Oxygen floating around in the atmosphere. |
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Yauch
join:2005-06-24 | reply to jc100
Again, it's a good thing these balloons won't be carrying electronic devices or any sort of power source that could cause a spark. |
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Yauch
join:2005-06-24 | reply to jc100
Don't forget the fact that all 3 would have an extremely short window of time to come togther. |
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dvd536
as Mr. Pink as they come
Premium
join:2001-04-27
Phoenix, AZ
| reply to UglyDork
said by UglyDork  :said by antwanp :A hydrogen balloon igniting that high up would burn up so fast that it wouldn't be of any danger to people on the ground. -Antwan L. Except for the falling transceiver.   it'd probably burn up in the atmosphere. nothing usable to recover.
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You can never be too rich, too thin or have too much Bandwidth |
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Zerny
join:2007-05-04
Fort Gratiot, MI | reply to jester121
Hey they did it with the Apollo missions when we faked the moon landing im sure getting the transceiver down wont be a problem |
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no_one
@QWEST.NET
| reply to jc100
nsaid by jc100 :I urge you to go back to school and learn a bit more before being a smartass. As I told the poster above, HYDROGEN IS NOT EXPLOSIVE WITHOUT TWO THINGS: 1) OXYGEN 2) IGNITION SOURCE Pure hydrogen WITHOUT THOSE TWO ELEMENTS DOES NOT BURN. Hence, I urge you to learn a bit before you speak and pretend to be smart. Some of US PAID ATTENTION IN CLASS during our years in school. OTHERS DID NOT (YOU) » www.physlink.com/Education/AskEx···e575.cfm Yes now I do not know if what Amigo did could work or not. But some hydrogen in a toy leaking balloon with matches thrown at it could ignite. Now the memories of a young child saying picking stuff out of the mouth etc. is young kids memories. Not I was taken to the hospital with major burns and barely lived.
If it did work and happen probably a small fire and standing way too close as kids at that age do. So long ago memories are exaggerated not wrong. |
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