It is generally believed that kiteboarding with thunderstorms is life-threatening. Yet it often happens that kiteboarders do not come off the water for a thunderstorm. Even after this experiment? Below is an experiment performed in the program “Mythbusters”.
The experiment
Myth: Ben Franklin discovered electricity while Ben was flying a kite in a thunderstorm. A spark was generated from his finger to a key.
The three part experiments
- Charge of the key: Can the charge of thunderstorms be transferred to the key via the kite and lines?
- The Spark: Could the charge be high enough to generate a spark?
- Survive, yes or no ?: Could Franklin have survived the phenomenon?
1: Loading the key
Without thunderstorms only static charge is created. This is not enough to generate a spark. It is clear that one can get the key loaded. Test 1 completed.
2: The Spark
The kite is put under tension with equipment. And there is a spark to the key.
Test 2 completed.
3: The live or die test
A heart monitor is connected to the Ben Franklin Dummy. The heart endured 6mA (fatal).
A real lightning bolt has a lot more charge, Franklin could never have survived this. Test 3 failed.
Conclusion:
busted : The first two parts of the experiment may have happened, but Franklin would no longer be able to touch the key.
Hmm, just let the kite down when it gets dark due to an approaching thunderstorm!
Wow, especially that last bit when you watch that doll getting electrocuted!