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Name:  Simon M.
Status: student
Age: 14
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2000-2001
Question:
How can lightning be simulated? I mean can you create a lightning bolt with materials that will not cost a fortune?

Replies:
Simon,

Every time you see a spark of static electricity, you are seeing a miniature lightning bolt. However, if you seek to make a bolt the size of a real lightning bolt, you are talking about very costly equipment. Ask your science teacher if he/she has access to a Van De Graff generator, or a Tesla coil, or a Wimshurst generator. These are pieces of science lab demonstration hardware that can make simulated lightning bolts. Even so, none of this equipment is very affordable for the average person.

Regards,
ProfHoff

Unless you want to experiment and build your own Tesla coil (You probably could find instructions on the Internet.), I think that Edmund's Scientific Inc. has some lightning simulators that are not very expensive.

Vince Calder


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