26 The Lockheed P-38 Lighting is an American two-engine fighter used by the United States Army Air Forces and other Allied air forces during World War II. Of the 10,037 planes built, 26 survive today, 22 of which are located in the United States, and 10 of which are airworthy.
What is a P-38 Lightning?
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is a World War II-era American piston-engined fighter aircraft. Developed for the United States Army Air Corps, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament.
The Lockheed P-38 Lighting is an American two-engine fighter used by the United States Army Air Forces and other Allied air forces during World War II. Of the 10,037 planes built, 26 survive today, 22 of which are located in the United States, and 10 of which are airworthy.
It carried up to 4,000 pounds (1,800 kilograms) of bombs. The 418th, 419th and 421st Night Fighter Squadron were given P-38s.
Lockheed designed the P-38 in response to a 1937 United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) request for a high-altitude interceptor, capable of 360 mph at altitude of 20,000 ft, (580 km/h at 6100 m). The Bell P-39 Airacobra and the Curtiss P-40Warhawk were designed to meet the same request.
What is the mass of a lightning bolt?
So, technically speaking, the mass of a lightning bolt could be the sum of all the electrons and the plasma within the electrical charge channel. (thank you to tpg2114).
This begs the question “Does lightning have mass?”
These charged particles excite the atoms in the air as they travel, which subsequently emit the light that you see. If to you, lightning is this stream of charges, then yes, lightning does have mass; it is made of electrons.
My chemistry teacher/book states that lightning is just light, and therefore has no mass and takes up no space (we’re not very far through the book yet, it’s defining matter). However, I take issue with this statement – it feels wrong. My reasoning is this: Lightning, as far as I know, is simply electrical energy.
But, talking of mass in general sense, Light does not have mass. Of course a discussion on light can never be limited to a general sense. Albert Einstein demonstrated through photoelectric effect that Light is composed of particles (energy packets) since it was able to knockout electrons from their orbits. But does this point to light having mass?
What are some alternatives to normal lightning rods?
There is a lot of disagreement in the lightning protection industry. The system that seems to have the endorsement of most authoritative organizations is to the old standby grounded rod system, which even has codes written around it.
Not every home needs lightning rod protection. Isolated houses and houses in elevated, exposed areas run a greater risk of lightning strikes, but tall structures and tall terrain features nearby could give a home good passive protection. Sorry, the video player failed to load.