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Derrek
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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 Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 6:53 pm Post subject: What are the metal things hanging from tailpipes on cars? |
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I noticed that several Korean cars have metal strips or chains hanging from the tailpipe, which often touch the ground.
Is this some kind of anti-static device? |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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Yes. Never got an electric shock from a car in winter before? I've got to get me one of those before I develop a phobia of opening my car door...  |
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just because
Joined: 01 Aug 2003
Location: Changwon - 4964
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| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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It is meant to be a cure for carsickness. we have these in Australia as well.
I'm not sure how they work(if they work at all). It maybe something to do with keeping contact with the ground(but don't the tires do that) but i have a feeling it might be more of a mental thing when these are involved. |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 8:14 pm Post subject: |
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Never heard that before... but they definitely ground cars to prevent static shocks. Does static electricity have something to do with motion sickness? Dunno  |
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captain kirk
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 2:10 am Post subject: |
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| The package says (these little chains which clamp onto the car tailpipe and drag on the ground) they improve radio reception and stereo sound in the car by reducing static. |
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phaedrus
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Location: I'm comin' to get ya.
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| Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 4:41 am Post subject: |
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What happens if cars with these things on them get hit by lightning?
I've never examined one of these things, so am unsure whether it would fry, or ground the car well enough to zap you. |
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Derrek
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 5:03 am Post subject: |
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Well, if you're in the car, you're better off.. the body of the car would absorb most of the zap, I'm guessing. This chain would help it transfer the zap, but it would be melted in the process.
My neighbor's house got hit by lightning when I was a kid. It welded the waterpipes together into a really weird mess -- water everywhere.
A coworker's house got hit, and the lightning travelled down the wall and somehow through a mirror -- breaking it and leaving a weird pattern on it, then fried their TV and some other stuff. |
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J.B. Clamence
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 6:45 am Post subject: |
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| Derrek wrote: |
| Well, if you're in the car, you're better off.. the body of the car would absorb most of the zap, I'm guessing. This chain would help it transfer the zap, but it would be melted in the process. |
When encountering electricity, you don't want to be grounded. So if you're in a car struck by lightning, you're much better off if the car is not grounded with a chain. I'm not sure exactly what it would do to the people inside, though. |
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Derrek
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2004 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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| J.B. Clamence wrote: |
| Derrek wrote: |
| Well, if you're in the car, you're better off.. the body of the car would absorb most of the zap, I'm guessing. This chain would help it transfer the zap, but it would be melted in the process. |
When encountering electricity, you don't want to be grounded. So if you're in a car struck by lightning, you're much better off if the car is not grounded with a chain. I'm not sure exactly what it would do to the people inside, though. |
Yes, but a lightning bolt is a whole lotta zap. It doesn't need a chain to get from the body of the car to the ground. But having one can't help much. Still, electricity looks for the quickest way to its destination. That's why it follows the body/frame of the car.
But I still wouldn't want to be inside to prove it!  |
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