It seems to me the answer lies in the unpredictability of the "best path."
You have to look at that equation in four dimensions: co-ordinate geometry
set against time.
Variations in humidity and wind currents mean that at any given second, the
"best path" may not be what it appears to be ** at that moment **.
As well, if a charge builds up 10 feet from a tree, adding the ground
resistance to the tree's resistance may mean that moving through the ground
to the tree and into the air isn't the path of least resistance, just going
straight into the air may be.
Remember also how much larger plate spacing in an air capacitor must be to
prevent arcing vs. some other kind of membrane.
73, kelly
ve4xt
----- Original Message -----
From: "doc" <kd4e@verizon.net>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 8:43 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] lightning & trees
> I am no electrical engineer or physicist but this doesn't sound right.
>
> The energy in lightning exists within the physical laws and would seem
> to be seeking a state of balance, and one expects would do so as
> efficiently as possible.
>
> Would it not flow through the *best* path versus a lesser path should
> both options present?
>
> Why would lightning fail to follow a superior path versus a lesser
> path?
>
> Puzzled in lighting-alley Florida, doc
>
> > Gary Schafer wrote:
> > Any tree or structure type in a given location has as good a chance as
> > the next to be hit. A grounded tower has about the same chance of being
> > hit as an ungrounded one. Conductivity of an object has little to do
> > with its chance of being hit by lightning.
> > 73 Gary K4FMX
>
> --
> Thanks! & 73, doc kd4e
>
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