question about a particular electrical effect

[inhahe]

I remember reading once about an electrical effect that happens at the back edges of jet wings, i think fast jets like military jets, or perhaps at the wingtips. The effect, i heard, should be impossible in current theory - it's not understood, yet they actually make use of it because it works. maybe involving those little things that stick out from the back of the wing. does anybody know what this effect is/what it's called? thanks.

 

[IRstuff]

On the contrary, it's well-known and UNDERSTOOD; it's called static electricity. The wires allow the static electricity to bleed off the wings; that effect is likewise well known and understood.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[ckenny]

Google static dischargers

 

[inhahe]

well, i definitely remember that the effect was supposed to be not understood, seemingly impossible, yet employed in some crafts anyway. perhaps it's some particular aspect of the static discharge, but it may not be about the static discharge thingies at all. gar, sometimes i feel like i'm straddling parallel realities..

 

[IRstuff]

You got to stop getting your information from National Inquirer. ;-)

You're refering to the Biefield-Brown Effect, but no one has taken that past the desktop.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[inhahe]

hmm.. i'm not sure if that's it, but it'll do! i just needed examples of electrical phenomena that aren't understood.

 

[IRstuff]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biefeld–Brown_effect

Sorry for the bad spelling

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[MintJulep]

Didn't Mythbusters build a Biefeld-Brown thruster in the anti-gravity episode?

 

[FieldTeam]

For other interesting facts, read SAE Aerospace report SAE AIR1147 "Electromagnetic Interfearance on Aircraft from Jet Engine Charging". Boeing also has an old "Airliner Magazine" article that discusses static dischargers and triboelectric charges.