hi, does anyone know how those shocking pens,lighters, etc....products are made, and what causes the jolt of?
463196
As I said on the other question Piazo crystals are banged together.
1125383
Here is a link that will give you information on Ball Lightning:\n\nhttp://www.amasci.com/tesla/ballgtn.html\n\nAlso, go to Google...look under Images only...type in Ball Lightning...and you will see lots of pictures regarding Ball Lightning.  \n\nI hope this helps.
1184410
You have probably experienced static electricity. It's the charge that you create when you scuff your feet on a rug. Then when you touch a doorknob, you get a small shock. That's static electricity. \n\n    The reason why it works is a little more complicated. To start, you have to know that every object is made up of billions of tiny particles, called protons and electrons. These particles are so small they can only be seen with special microscopes. \n\n    Despite their small size, protons and electrons carry an electrical charge. Protons carry a "positive" charge, while electrons carry a "negative" energy charge. \n\n    Usually, the two different charges balance each other out, and nothing happens. But when two objects with like charges (all positive or all negative) come together, the charges repel and the objects move away from each other. Objects with opposite charges attract each other because the different charges want to enter a state of balance with each other. \n\n    Objects can get a negative charge by picking up electrons from other objects. For example, when your shoes scuff against the rug, your shoes are actually picking up electrons from the rug. The electrons fly over your body, giving you a negative charge. \n\n    Your new electrons fly over your body because they are looking for a positive charge. If you touch a metal doorknob, the electrons on your body will leap into the metal, attracted by the protons there. The transfer of electrons is actually a small electrical current, and produces the tiny electric shock you feel. \n\n    Lightning is like static electricity, except on a much bigger scale. Both lightning and static electricity happen because of the attraction between the opposite charges.
783905
its called "static electricity".???
850162
In a storm cloud, the moving air makes tiny water droplets and ice rub together so they become charged with static electricity. The positive electrical charges float up near the top of the cloud and the larger ones, with negative charges, stay near the bottom. This separation of electrical charges is very unstable and lightning is the way the charges are equalized or become balanced. \n\n\nWhat you need?\n\nA large iron or steel pot (not aluminum) with a plastic handle. \nRubber gloves. \nAn iron or steel fork. \nA plastic sheet (a dry-cleaner garment bag is good source). \n\nWhat to do..\n\nTape the plastic sheet to a table top.\n\nPut on the rubber gloves.\n\nDarken the room as much as possible.\n\nHold the large iron pot or pan by its insulating handle and rub the pan vigorously to and fro on the plastic sheet. \n\nHolding the fork firmly in the other hand, bring its prongs slowly near the rim. When the gap between pot and fork is small, a tiny spark should jump across (A darker room will help you see the spark more clearly).\n \nWhat you will Discover\nIt is as though the pan is the thundercloud, the fork is the lighting rod and you are the Earth's surface.\n\nPlease note: The humidity in the air can affect static electricity. If the air is damp, such as during the winter, then this experiment may not work.
199036
Current burns, voltage jerks the muscles.  Too much current, you're toast.  Too much voltage, your heart stops.\n\nStatic built up from rubbing your socks on the carpet probably won't kill you.\n\nSeveral years back, in the wintertime, there were some news reports of people whose car blew up at the gas pumps.  Supposedly it was due to static electricity.\n\nIt's rare to get "shocked" outside when getting in or out of one's car or touching it or whatever but it does happen.  I remember a couple times in the past 5 years when it happened to me. A tiny percentage of times I have done that but way more than zero.\n\nSo, I guess the combination of a spark and being by your open gas tank could kills you, indirectly.\n\nTaking an extreme counter-example, there was a girl struck by lightening at the WHFS alternative rock festival in DC a few years ago. Apparently it knocked her a few feet from where she was standing.  But, it didn't kill her.  She was lucky.\n\nStatic charges build up more easily in wintertime. The air is dryer.  Something about the air molecules is different when there is less moisture.  I forget what, but you have probably noticed more "static" shocks in winter than any other time of year, unless you live in a really cold, dry place.\n\nA three inch spark seems pretty far.\n\nIn high school physics class, they said that each inch that a spark travelled off a sphere through the air indicated 10,000 volts.  I think it was 10,000.  Well, you're not a sphere and you are probably not touching one but that still seems like a lot.\n\nI used to get shocks of half or three quarters of an inch  when touching the corners of walls at the house I grew up in all the time.  That was really nothing.  I barely felt it.  It was just a surprise to feel it, and also to see the spark leap between the wall and your finger.\n\nModern buildings have grounding wires on all the outlets and stuff like that, to prevent electrical problems.  Not sure what really old buildings are like.\n\nIf you are wearing a sweater or wool clothing, that could increase the amount of static charge you build up.  There are all kinds of things that could do it.\n\nIf it happens on warm, humid days when you are not wearing any wool or sweaters, that would really be strange.  If not, maybe it is what you are wearing or the atmosphere that is mostly responsible.\n\nAlso, carpet is a big factor.\n\nFeeling it hours later, that's freaky. That never happened to me.
165399
not neccessarily, it really depends if your wearing shoes or not. of course your asking, how do i verify this?\n\nwell their is this thing called conductors and instulators. conductors means current can go through and insulators means it can't. the reason why humans get charged up because their friction causes electrons to build up in their body.\n\nso basically, touch someone else for fun and you might verify that shock.
1085489
Metal objects such as the spoon & the pointed ends of the fork act to concentrate the electric field formed at the tips. This has the effect of exceeding the dielectric breakdown gradient of air, about 3 megavolts per meter (3×106V/m), causing sparks to form. This effect is somewhat analogous to the effect of St. Elmo's fire.\nMetal or conductive object placed into the microwave will act as an antenna, and its electrons will thus be thrashed back and forth through the object (a high frequency alternating current) causing some ohmic heating to occur\n\n- no damage to magnetron, but !
1140417
There is a great article to read on this, from How Stuff Works.  Its under "How Lightning Works", but it talks about both lightning and thunder.  My students got a lot out of it.
661131
Oh boy.  There's no doubting it when it happens.  Depending on the size they will catch fire and you'll smell a combination of copper and ozone.  It will give out a typical pulse signal however some of the pulses may be missing or it won't produce power at all.
282569
ah ha my kinda question. lightning comes down only to a point above the strike point then a contacting point comes up from the strike point and connects with the down charge completing the circut. then the charge goes up and down several times. thats what causes the bright flash. here are some pages that will help.
565832
Condesates formed under high temp. and pressure can reach flash points suddenly. They usually combust with a flame whose characteristics depends on the material.\n\nIt can be used as reaction indicators or flashes.
509223
Something else in the pocket made contact with both terminals, causing the battery to pass current and generating heat.  I did this once by tossing a 9V that I thought was discharged into my pants pocket where I have my office keys.  The keys completed the circuit from the positive to the negative terminals, and I shortly noticed the heat.
114222
Fur rubbed on plastic or glass is a classic way to make a static shock.  By wearing those gloves and turning the steering wheel, you are building up a good bit of electricity.  Don't drive with those gloves on.
991857
Nothing more than the standard high-voltage hazard boxed set. You know, fatal static discharges, being skewered by a lightning bolt, that sort of thing. Also they were designed by one of the strangest sci guys ever to show up on this planet- you can't help feeling like there's something wierd about them.
108122
http://science.howstuffworks.com/lightning.htm
228410
what makes me laugh really hard?Well,alot of things do,but today,my friend steven and me and my boyfriend and alot of other ppl were at the bar,and steven was trying to use his lighter and put holes in a napkin,and all of a sudden it blew in flames and he tried to but in the ash tray but he burned him-self,then he tried to blow it out,which all that did was send the fire napkin into the middle of the floor and he tried to use his shoe and put it out but then it got stuck to the bottom of his shoe.You just,had to be there,thanx for askin.:)