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The Hindenburg The Laws of Physics Electrostatic discharges throughout the ship were a known occurrence. This is most concerning when the ship drops its anchor ropes to earth after a long flight (potentially creating a ground), and under normal circumstances, these static discharges are minimal or not life threatening because these ropes are highly resistant to the flow of electricity. However, these were not normal circumstances because it was raining, which highly increased the electrical conductivity of the surface area of the ropes, and the superstructure of the airship (operating in a highly electrified environment) had become flooded with hydrogen (mixed with oxygen), essentially turning the Hindenburg into a flying hydrogen gas bomb. At that point, it was just a matter of time before the highly electrified aluminum varnished chemical paint (dope) of the exterior of the airship1 would arc to its metallic superstructure, after its wet anchor ropes, now performing the roles of grounding wires, were dropped to earth. And when it presumably did at 6:25 PM, a once non-life-threatening event turned into a spectacular explosion that would spark human debate as to its cause that still exists to this day. |
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1
National Geographic
Seconds From Disaster: The Hindenburg
YouTube.com/watch?v=KowvaxobrQg&t=30s
Photo Rare Historical Photos The Hindenburg Disaster in Rare Pictures, 1937 RareHistoricalPhotos.com/hindenburg-disaster-pictures/ |
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