Posted on 09/16/2005 4:53:45 AM PDT by Cowman
Last Update: Friday, September 16, 2005. 12:18pm (AEST)
Man builds up 30,000 volts of static electricity
Victorian authorities believe a man built up at least 30,000 volts of static electricity in his jacket simply by walking around the western Victorian city of Warrnambool yesterday.
The man left a trail of scorch marks and molten plastic behind him.
It was yesterday afternoon when Frank Clewer walked into a Warrnambool business and got his first shock.
"It sounded almost like a firecracker or something like that," he said.
"It was at the reception area. Within say, around five minutes, the carpet started to erupt," he said.
Burns the size of 10-cent pieces were left on the carpet where Mr Clewer had been standing.
The Country Fire Authority evacuated the building and those around it, fearing the power could cause larger electrical problems.
But Mr Clewer's worries continued when he got back in his car.
"I actually scorched a piece of plastic I had on the floor of the car," he said.
Scientist Karl Kruszelnicki says it is likely the electrical build-up was caused by a number of factors, such as the synthetic clothes the man was wearing.
"This poor guy has built up static electricity thanks to an unfortunate combination of insulating clothes that he's wearing, static, synthetic clothes, just walking along and he's just building up this static charge everywhere," Dr Kruszelnicki said.
"I've read of it but I've never heard of it here in Australia."
The CFA has Mr Clewer's jacket and says it is continuing to give off voltage.
Sorry... I should have realized we need positive news here.
Jokes about electrons should be banned, because they are so negative.
I was shocked. SHOCKED I tell you.
That's as bad as the power surge in England that wanted to go 'OHM!!!! :0)
This guy should be grounded.
OK, fess up, which one of you was it?
Just picture a lap dances surprise....
Yes, Rit should be PUNished
The real danger of the '70s - disco & polyester together in one place
My understanding from college physics was that it took about 30,000 volts to break down air to the point one could see a visible spark. That would mean that anybody who rubbed their feet on carpet and touched a door handle had 30,000 volts. Thus, there's something I'm not getting here.
Yeah, no doubt the story IS a fraud, but it's such fun!
There are ways to rectify that situation.
When we first started getting desktop computers it was great fun to shuffle our feet past the receptionist and then touch the metal of the partition. The computer would reboot. After a few days the receptionist ran out of things to say, and we tired of the amusement.
"Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is."
I have, for years, read of spontaneous human combustion, long before the X-files. I wonder if this might be the etiology.
Who is in charge?
There has to be a source of the current.
The current available is only that stored in the capacitance of the insulated body to the environment around it. Very little capacitance, or ability to store enough energy to burn the carpet.
Or at the least sent to the punatentiary.
Kill A Commie For Mommie
Seven Dead Monkeys Page O Tunes
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