On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 17:07:46 +0100, Jaques d'Alltrades
wrote:

Well, metal. Mix some steel wool with something dry and combustible,
strike a spark into it, and watch it go! (Or focus the sun's rays
through a lens on it.)

Ah, but cars aren't quite made of steel wool!

Pam in Bristol

The message
from Pam Moore contains these words:
On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 17:07:46 +0100, Jaques d'Alltrades
wrote:

Well, metal. Mix some steel wool with something dry and combustible,
strike a spark into it, and watch it go! (Or focus the sun's rays
through a lens on it.)

Ah, but cars aren't quite made of steel wool!

Have you seen one burn, though?

Through.

Thorough.

--
Rusty
Emus to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

The message
from Janet Baraclough contains these words:

/snip/

Also, in my experience lenses are convex too.

And whivh way up do you hold the convex lens, to make a burn from
sun ray?

It doesn't matter - plano-convex or double convex, the focal length is
the same from either side.

--
Rusty
Emus to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

Pam Moore writes

On Sun, 18 Sep 2005 20:30:37 +0100, Jaques d'Alltrades
wrote:

Sun can't burn the leaf through drops of water - 's against the laws of
physics.

But it can and does!

You've seen this happen? No, thought not. It's actually one of those old
wives' tales equivalents.

That's why you shouldn't water in bright sunshine, though sometimes the
sun comes out too soon after rain and the same thing happens.

Again, have you actually seen this, or just believe it to be? Again,
thought not. So, don't worry, if you see a fleeting, heavy summer shower
heading your way next season, you don't have to rush out and cover your
garden with a big tarpaulin.

It can be surprising, sometimes, how strong 'suggestion' can play a part
in our minds. Honestly, this really doesn't happen in reality.

Have you never burned a piece of paper by focusing the sunlight with a
lens?

Have you tried burning a piece of a paper by focussing sunlight with a
drop of water? Good luck!

The drop of water acts as a tiny lens and burns the leaf.

Oh, no it doesn't. : P

--
Flower Bobdew
South Facing Garden
South West: UK