My good friend and I are trying to make a Vocaloid sort of robot and we need a synthetic and movable material that we can use as skin, any suggestions?
Almost certainly. Electricity passes very well through flesh. That's why when someone is being electrocuted, you are supposed to push them away with something rubber or wood, not your hands as you will then be electrocuted yourself. Even in a leather saddle, there are sufficient amounts of metal, and sufficient skin to skin contact, that it would be nothing short of a miracle for the rider to escape uninjured. On a side note- lightning typically strikes the tallest object in the immediate area, which is why you're not supposed to hold umbrellas or stand under trees during lightning. Therefore, it would be far more likely that the rider would be struck, not the horse. If the rider was on the horse at the time, he or she would be the tallest point, and the most likely to be hit. If you're going for realism in your novel, it's something you should take into account.
yes the rider would be affected. 20 years ago a big storm blew up. i was managing a large riding facility and lived on the proerty in an old house trailer. i could not get my windows closed as there were prop rods on the outside of the house to keep the windows up. when i went out and pulled the prop rod out and grabbed the window to close it a bolt of lightening hit close by and i was actually stuck to the window for several seconds. then thrown really hard to the ground. it hurt like crazy and my whole body siezed up. i was definatley affectedLOL
If you have the misfortune to get caught out in a lightning storm and struck while you're riding, then you better say your prayers, because you're going to get a one way ticket to Heaven. A saddle offers NO PROTECTION WHATSOEVER against lightning strikes, and horses are natural lightning rods. THAT'S WHY it's important to PAY ATTENTION to the weather forecast BEFORE you venture outside or away from the barn. With metal bits in their mouths, steel shoes on their feet, and saddles with steel stirrups on their backs, there's no way ANY horse can avoid becoming a target for lightning if the conditions are right. And by the way, for Dreamer's benefit: The rule of thumb to remember with lightning is that it ALWAYS strikes the EASIEST target, NOT necesarily the TALLEST target. Meterology ( the study of the weather and climate) is a lifelong hobby of mine- I grew up on the northern end of the infamous Tornado Alley in the Midwest, where violent thunderstorms are common. I learned about lightning's dangers very young- the very first horse I ever learned to ride on and took lessons on was KILLED by lightning while at pasture. ( I was only about 12 when that happened.) As I got older, I began studying and paying attention to weather and cloud formations- they fascinate me and always have. The information about lightning which I just passed on is something I learned from one of the meterologists I met when I was in my early teens. This particular gentleman was a storm chaser for many years- that meant that he was someone who made a living tracking and monitoring tornadoes and violent storms. As far as I know, he's still doing that now. So the answer to the asker's question is YES, both rider and horse would die if they were struck.
I think it would depend if the rider was actually touching the horse or not. If they're just touching the tack (like in a Western saddle, it's less likely they're making physical contact with the horse with the leg), there's a possibility they won't get hit, because lightning takes the fastest way to the ground, and if the rider is insulated from the ground, it will hit the horse instead. However, the force of the lightning hitting the horse will send the rider flying, and the horse will most certainly collapse. Also, electrocution means death by electric shock, so someone can't say they were electrocuted, because it means they're dead. So make sure to use the word right (if you use it at all in your writing). PS- Many people survive being struck by lightning. It's not an automatic death sentence, for either the human or the horse. They may get some pretty nasty burns, but it not automatically equal death.
Epoxy is a bit stronger, but the strength is really all in the glass, and how well you prepare the surface and do the work. Epoxy is often used as a top coat as it is more water-resistant than polyester, certainly if you are leaving the boat in the water for years on end. I'm not sure about amounts - but you don't want to be going back to the store for more halfway through laying up. You want as little resin in the glass as you can get away with, so long as the glass is all properly wetted and has no voids, so you work the resin in with a brush or metal roller. re. preparation - all wax and grease should be removed with acetone, and the old surface rough sanded for some distance (5 maybe) around the new work, and all wet/delaminated old glass cut away
