5 ms·

Like a giant welder?

by HKH2 4y ago

mlindner 4y ago
More than that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hpE5LYj-CY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hpE5LYj-CY
ta2234234242 4y ago
More powerful than that. Think molten metal going everywhere or vaporizing into the air.
- changoplatanero 4y ago
  What happens to the vaporized metal after things cool down? Does it become dust?
  - ars 4y ago
    It becomes a metal oxide - don't breathe it. Basically it's powered rock, rocks are made of metal oxides.
    - sebazzz 4y ago
      So basically the metal is going back to its original form. You might also call it accelerated rust.
  - hexane360 4y ago
    To be more specific, when GP says 'vaporized', they mean that part of it turns into plasma, and a lot more is sprayed out as molten droplets. All of it freezes on contact with solid surfaces, often the eyes and exposed body parts of the victims. Here's a good (SFW) video demonstrating an arc flash: https://youtu.be/bPifdBpcMRY https://youtu.be/bPifdBpcMRY
atoav 4y ago
You are forbidden by law (and mandated to report) such arcs in Europe. In Germany people who work in such environments have to have a few special certificates and PPE that looks like they are trying to defuse a bomb. Arc flashes like that can burn with 10000 to 15000 degrees celsius and if you are close by not only will they send you flying, you are probably dead before you hit the ground. And trying to extinguish such an arc can be quite a challenge.
- vsnf 4y ago
  > will they send you flying What is the mechanism by which an object would be propelled when hit by such an arc?
  - ars 4y ago
    The heat of the arc rapidly expands air (like a lighting bolt), the heat of the arc also vaporizes the metal conductor, and the vaporized metal expands rapidly, and enormously. It's basically a small explosion. The hot metal then ignites in air adding even more heat to the explosion.
  - mediaman 4y ago
    There is an explosive heating of air that’s like a bomb going off.
  - schoen 4y ago
    Apparently mainly air pressure: > The pressure wave created by an arc flash explosion has the force of thousands of pounds per square inch. This is powerful enough to knock down or throw nearby workers and at the same time cause damage to the eardrums, lungs, brain and other vital organs. https://www.electricityforum.com/iep/arc-flash/electrical-arc-blast https://www.electricityforum.com/iep/arc-flash/electrical-ar... (I didn't know that, and just found that explanation while looking for an answer to your question.) A different risk is that electric current passing through the body could cause muscle convulsions, which could also cause someone to move or fall suddenly or erratically.
- Semaphor 4y ago

Like a giant welder?

by HKH2 4y ago

Like a giant welder?

mlindner 4y ago

More than that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hpE5LYj-CY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hpE5LYj-CY

ta2234234242 4y ago

More powerful than that. Think molten metal going everywhere or vaporizing into the air.

changoplatanero 4y ago
What happens to the vaporized metal after things cool down? Does it become dust?
- ars 4y ago
  It becomes a metal oxide - don't breathe it. Basically it's powered rock, rocks are made of metal oxides.
  - sebazzz 4y ago
    So basically the metal is going back to its original form. You might also call it accelerated rust.
- hexane360 4y ago
  To be more specific, when GP says 'vaporized', they mean that part of it turns into plasma, and a lot more is sprayed out as molten droplets. All of it freezes on contact with solid surfaces, often the eyes and exposed body parts of the victims. Here's a good (SFW) video demonstrating an arc flash: https://youtu.be/bPifdBpcMRY https://youtu.be/bPifdBpcMRY

atoav 4y ago

You are forbidden by law (and mandated to report) such arcs in Europe. In Germany people who work in such environments have to have a few special certificates and PPE that looks like they are trying to defuse a bomb. Arc flashes like that can burn with 10000 to 15000 degrees celsius and if you are close by not only will they send you flying, you are probably dead before you hit the ground. And trying to extinguish such an arc can be quite a challenge.

vsnf 4y ago
> will they send you flying What is the mechanism by which an object would be propelled when hit by such an arc?
- ars 4y ago
  The heat of the arc rapidly expands air (like a lighting bolt), the heat of the arc also vaporizes the metal conductor, and the vaporized metal expands rapidly, and enormously. It's basically a small explosion. The hot metal then ignites in air adding even more heat to the explosion.
- mediaman 4y ago
  There is an explosive heating of air that’s like a bomb going off.
- schoen 4y ago
  Apparently mainly air pressure: > The pressure wave created by an arc flash explosion has the force of thousands of pounds per square inch. This is powerful enough to knock down or throw nearby workers and at the same time cause damage to the eardrums, lungs, brain and other vital organs. https://www.electricityforum.com/iep/arc-flash/electrical-arc-blast https://www.electricityforum.com/iep/arc-flash/electrical-ar... (I didn't know that, and just found that explanation while looking for an answer to your question.) A different risk is that electric current passing through the body could cause muscle convulsions, which could also cause someone to move or fall suddenly or erratically.
Semaphor 4y ago