FUN WITH MAPS – ISSUE 2022-105 DAILY FEATURE:
By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)
LOVELAND, OH (June 10, 2022) – In Issue 2022-105 of Steve Kovacs Fun with Maps, he tells a striking story of electrostatic discharge.
PLAYING WITH LIGHTNING
On June 10, 1752, Ben Franklin conducted an experiment using a kite to capture lightning. He was unsuccessful. If successful, his tombstone might have noted his life span as 1706-1752 and not the actual 1706-1790. Most hit directly by lightning do die, but those close to a strike often can survive.
Lightning is electrostatic discharge that occurs about 45 times per second on our earth.
The amount of energy instantly discharged per average lightning is about 1 gigajoule, which equates to the electricity consumption of an average U.S. home in nine (9) days.
A mind experiment would suggest that, sadly, in the best case, only 650,000 US homes could be powered by fully harnessing all the lightning occurring in the US annually. Not a real good option for green energy.
Back to Franklin. Aside from his scientific work, he was a statesman, diplomat, postmaster, writer, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Here is Desilver’s map of Franklin’s “home state” of Pennsylvania from 1856. Philadelphia and the Lehigh Coal region are the insets.

Pewnnsylvania – 1856 (Credit Steve Kovacs)
Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.
Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Antique Maps & Fun Facts here on Loveland Beacon.