How hot is a zap? (Static electricity)

[Swamp Donkey]

I am currently in school right now and we are learning about the volitility of hydrocarbons. They all have different flash points. What I was wondering and asked the teacher was how hot is a zap from regular static electricity. You know the one where you drag your feet on the carpet and stick your finger on your wife's nose! Curious minds want to know. If memory serve's me right a match is about 750-800 degrees celcius. Sorry I'm Canadian!

 

[Bill Lins]

Originally posted by Swamp Donkey

how hot is a zap from regular static electricity. You know the one where you drag your feet on the carpet and stick your finger on your wife's nose!

Not nearly as hot as your wife would be!

 

[paccool]

HEY DOC, WHERE ARE YOU?

 

[B.G. Smith]

Don't know the temperature but the voltage for the pretty blue spark that jumps about a half inch is above 10,000 volts. I guess the temperature is directly proportional to the synthetic material in your pants times the distance you slide on the seat covers. bg

 

[DieselDoghouse]

I've never seen a figure measured or calculated, but I would guess surprisingly hot: driven by about 1 - 3 million volts a lightning bolt creates a plasma path hotter than the surface of the sun - but only in that path and only for milliseconds. There's just not enough BTU's to leave lasting effects: you can't dry your hair with your match even though its alot hotter than your hair dryer (temperature vs. Heat Content)

 

[illflem]

The spark that ignites a water heat, stove, etc is around 3000 volts to jump 1/8 inch, natural gas ignites at 800°. I guess you can go from there.

 

[SLightfoot]

Almost any static spark has the ability to ingnite.



Sparks are very dangerous, static or otherwise in a flammable environment. This is why at gas plants, equipment is often required to be intrinsically safe. . ie no spark generation.



Static electricity has amazing potential. . tens of thousands of volts, even more in some environments.



Shawn

 

[gitchesum]

I know it's hot enough to cause this to happen:

#ad




At one time that was a 30' cabin cruiser. A spark from the plastic gas can I was holding ignited the fumes coming out. It also caused the 5 gallon gas can I was holding and the 60 gallon gas tank to explode causing the aftermath you see above. Amazingly, no one was seriously injured. The boat was a total loss and the boat next to it received over $10,000 worth of damage. Still remember it like it was yesterday and it was over 10 years ago.

 

[rich m]

may or may not be accurate, but.....

was told in 10th grade electronics class that every 1/4" spark length represents 25KV..... the diameter of the spark (and therefore the heat generation and distribution) is a reflection of the amps.



If you are a person who does any arc-welding, and you've ever had a bad technique moment, you've undoubtedly seen a 1"long spark, that delivered nearly no heat. That's because the current will follow the plasma path that you created when you ignited the initial spark, and even though your welder ( a big stepdown transformer) puts out, say 100A at about 100VAC, or thereabouts, the power flowing thru the spark will have the arc volts go up and the arc amps go down on its own.



A carpet-zap just can't compete with that, for practical purposes.