Boggled

[da]

melted_snowball and I were wondering about something this morning. Why do some autos have a metallic strap hanging down from the rear bumper onto the road?

I thought I read somewhere it was to prevent charge buildup in the car so the gas tank didn't explode. But oh, it's so much better than that.


09:48 <@dnm> They believe it cures motion sickness.
09:48 <@dnm> yarly.
09:48 <@dnm> (It doesn't.)
09:50 <@daniel> wait, I thought you were kidding still.
09:50 <@daniel> http://www.mizter.com/testimonials.htm


*boggles*

Comments

[zanate.livejournal.com]

We've sometimes got some pretty wicked static shocks from the outside of our car. I thought it was to solve that sort of thing.

Motion sickness? Bog.

[quingawaga.livejournal.com]

Yeah I bought one of those things but never got around to installing it, mainly because immediately after I bought it the shocks stopped happening. (Although, they're back now. I should really install it. Which means that now that I've threatened to do it, the shocks should stop again.)

[da-lj.livejournal.com]

Heh, that sounds like a good solution, too.

*threatens to shovel drive*

[chezmax]

I imagine shocks are more likely in dryer weather, ie winter. :)

Also, one wonders if that really works, like, how conductive is asphalt? :)

[quingawaga.livejournal.com]

It's conductive enough that I get a shock when I'm getting out of the car! I think the strap should work just fine. I'd rather have the charge dissipate through a strap as I drive then have the built-up charge ground through me when I get out. It hurts.

Plus it happens even when it's raining.

I wonder if the static buildup is related to which tires I have on the car. I am trying to remember which tires I've had on in the past when the shocks were at their worst. Seems to me the winter tires are causing more of a buildup.

[thingo.livejournal.com]

The air is drier in the winter, which promotes static electricity. In our building, shocks are far worse in the winter, even though nothing else changes.

I don't think it's related to the tires or the road surface. Isn't the static buildup just a result of dragging the car through the air?

[kraig.livejournal.com]

I don't know; I know my Echo gives me *wicked* shocks, way more than I was used to from the previous half dozen or so vehicles I've driven regularly.

But none of them have been in Ontario. I don't think I get brutal shocks from my wife's mother's car though. (Some Ford product.)

[jackspryte.livejournal.com]

Anti-static if I remember. The rubber interferes a bit more with the static discharge I believe.

I don't see how it could help at all with motion sickness. That seems silly.

[jackspryte.livejournal.com]

sorry I should have read the other comments.

[beartalon.livejournal.com]

I know a few people who could use a good shock. Maybe I should remove them from those cars.