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Article THE PIEES OP HEAVEN. ← Page 2 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Piees Op Heaven.
in fact always charged with electric ^ of course at the lhoinents of change froin the former state . This electricity is gto but it is occasionally negative , and resembles
It is only , however , when the clouds become electrified to an unusual degree , that they produce the phenomena known as thunderstorms . The clouds being charged with di fferent amounts of electricity are attracted and repelled , sometimes scattered in variou
directions , and at other times drawn together . Indeed , whenever they are observed to be agitated in this manner it may be concluded that a thunderstorni is about to take place , although no other indications are present .
A positively electrified cloud attracts one which is either in its natural state or electrified negatively ; and they consequently approach until to passes from the former ^ ^ niiig . As / however , a cloud is a very bad conductor , one p art may
be highly charged while the other is in its natural state . The first flash , therefore , instead of restoring the equilibrium it , and a succession of dischai ^ es is co form of the flash is zigzag , like that of th of an electrical machine .
The discharge does not , however , only take place between two clouds . As the electricity in one body repels that in another , an electrified cloud will act iipon a conductor in such a manner as to repel its natural electricity out of it into the earth , if it be not insulated , and the conductor will become negatively electrified and re-act upon the cloud . Hence it frequently happens that a conductor , at
or beneath the surface of the earth , attracts such a cloud with a force sufficient to bring it within striking distance of the ground , w hen a flash passes between the cloud and the earth , A reservoir of water just below the surface will do this . The lightning passes through the soil , fusing its substance , and leaving a hollow tubular passage . Such tubes are called fulgurites .
The length of the flash varies greatly . That of some of the most remarkable has been ascertained to be two and a half and three miles . The flash is probable not a continuous line of light , but consists of a single spark travelling with great rapidity and producing an optical illusion similar to that effected by whirling a lighted stick round in a circle .
Tho rolling sound of the thunder is attributable to various causes : first , to a succession of discharges between the same cloud—it is evident that these discharges would vary considerably , and would therefore produce sounds of different degrees of pow er . The rolling
is greater in mountainous districts than in open places ; hence it maybe inferred that it is partially produced by echo ; it is attributable also to the zig-zag form of the lightning . It may be assumed that the lightning produces the same degree of noise at every point of the flash , and it moves so rapidly with respect to the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Piees Op Heaven.
in fact always charged with electric ^ of course at the lhoinents of change froin the former state . This electricity is gto but it is occasionally negative , and resembles
It is only , however , when the clouds become electrified to an unusual degree , that they produce the phenomena known as thunderstorms . The clouds being charged with di fferent amounts of electricity are attracted and repelled , sometimes scattered in variou
directions , and at other times drawn together . Indeed , whenever they are observed to be agitated in this manner it may be concluded that a thunderstorni is about to take place , although no other indications are present .
A positively electrified cloud attracts one which is either in its natural state or electrified negatively ; and they consequently approach until to passes from the former ^ ^ niiig . As / however , a cloud is a very bad conductor , one p art may
be highly charged while the other is in its natural state . The first flash , therefore , instead of restoring the equilibrium it , and a succession of dischai ^ es is co form of the flash is zigzag , like that of th of an electrical machine .
The discharge does not , however , only take place between two clouds . As the electricity in one body repels that in another , an electrified cloud will act iipon a conductor in such a manner as to repel its natural electricity out of it into the earth , if it be not insulated , and the conductor will become negatively electrified and re-act upon the cloud . Hence it frequently happens that a conductor , at
or beneath the surface of the earth , attracts such a cloud with a force sufficient to bring it within striking distance of the ground , w hen a flash passes between the cloud and the earth , A reservoir of water just below the surface will do this . The lightning passes through the soil , fusing its substance , and leaving a hollow tubular passage . Such tubes are called fulgurites .
The length of the flash varies greatly . That of some of the most remarkable has been ascertained to be two and a half and three miles . The flash is probable not a continuous line of light , but consists of a single spark travelling with great rapidity and producing an optical illusion similar to that effected by whirling a lighted stick round in a circle .
Tho rolling sound of the thunder is attributable to various causes : first , to a succession of discharges between the same cloud—it is evident that these discharges would vary considerably , and would therefore produce sounds of different degrees of pow er . The rolling
is greater in mountainous districts than in open places ; hence it maybe inferred that it is partially produced by echo ; it is attributable also to the zig-zag form of the lightning . It may be assumed that the lightning produces the same degree of noise at every point of the flash , and it moves so rapidly with respect to the