Re: Tesla Coils & Ball Lightning

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Original poster: "Malcolm Watts" <m.j.watts@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

Hi Chris,

On 2 Aug 2005, at 21:27, Tesla list wrote:

> Original poster: "Chris Rutherford" <chris1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> Hi Brett,
>
> It's hard to convince sceptics, an investigator with long experience
> in lighting and high voltage work published a paper claming that out
> of thousands of photographs studied there was no indication of ball
> lightning.  "Berger, K (1973).  Ball lighting and lighting research".
> It is consequently unlikely that a lightning professional would risk
> ridicule and due criticism through being associated with a subject
> such as BL, one might as well study witchcraft.  I on the other had
> don't care, but who's going to listen to my ideas or beliefs :-)

I do not think for a moment that personal attacks (ridicule) have a
place in science. Neither do I think have beliefs. Evidence to
substantiate or refute a hypothesis are what I consider to be valid
components of the scientific method. I have previously read (long ago
in many cases) most of what was presented at the url you gave. It is
regrettable that Tesla is not around to demonstrate to us all that he
claims to have done. I don't recall reading any first hand
observations of BL production in accounts by any of his biographers
(Cheney, O'Neill et al) so their accounts are not much use.
     Some first hand reports of natural BL occurrences that have been
reported onlist (and I'm not thinking about the most recent ones)
make no mention of the phenomena being produced in an explosive
fashion as Tesla claims in that piece that they (always?) are. For
myself, the best I can do short of winning a lottery and setting up a
facility to investigate possible methods of BL production is to read
accounts by those who have witnessed it and those who have tried to
produce it (R. Golka in particular). I would find a demonstration of
its production on stage by the Corums most convincing. Even showing
of the video that the stills shown in their 90's (?) ITS papers were
taken from would be most helpful. I wonder if they showed the video
in that presentation? Anybody know?
     Unfortunately, belief doesn't get us any further in quantifying
the exact nature of BL so we are still in the dark as to what it is
and how to produce it. Some years ago one list member went to some
pains to build (IIRC) a double-resonator TC to try and produce some
and got nowhere. FWIW, Marx banks have been considered as possible
starters for BL production and one scheme mooted some years ago
proposed a TC + Marx bank as a possible starting configuration.
Again, nothing seems to have come of it. I suspect that if a
definitive method of producing fireballs was arrived at it would be
part and parcel of every public TC demonstration. I for one wouldn't
mind losing my garage if I found out how to do it at will ;)

Malcolm

> I believe Tesla knew what he was talking about at this stage (before
> he 'went mad').  See CSN p111, p333,  368-372, 431-432  All have
> references to BL.  I agree more evidence is required, so the search
> goes on.  I think another Golka type magnifier is required, this time
> with FES and more power.  It's just a matter of time... any
> volunteers?  You can not refute nature, she is always right.
>
> Some Tesla quotes on BL
>
> http://www.hackinghardware.com/tesla/balllite.txt
>
> Thanks
>
> Chris R
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> To:
> <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 8:00 AM Subject: Re:
> Tesla Coils & Ball Lightning
>
>
> >Original poster: Brett Miller <brmtesla2@xxxxxxxxx>
> >
> >Malcolm,
> >
> > > Who knows? He doesn't exactly spell it out.
> > > Moreover, if one takes at
> > > least some eyewitness accounts of ball lightning at
> > > face value, and
> > > taking into account that there is far more energy
> > > behind lightning
> > > events than has ever been put into manmade sparks,
> > > it would appear
> > > unlikely that his speculation re the destructive
> > > nature of manmade
> > > fireballs if they exist or can be produced is true.
> > >
> > > Malcolm
> >
> >I agree.  It would be interesting if someone was able
> >to interview people who research lightening for a
> >living, in order to take a survey of how many people
> >in that line of work have reported ball lightning
> >sightings.  Scientists have been able to artificially
> >direct strikes of natural lightning during a
> >thunderstorm by launching rockets which trail a
> >grounded wire.  I would like to know how many (if any)
> >of those events are associated with ball lightning
> >sightings.
> >
> >What about large Marx banks and similar impulse
> >generators?  Would this be a good starting point for
> >someone who was trying to stumble upon a method for
> >replicatable ball lightning production?  It would seem
> >to be a more reasonable way to reproduce the
> >conditions found in a natural ground strike, rather
> >than a tesla coil.  Any comments?
> >
> >-Brett
> >
>
>
>
>