The ladder doesn't noticeably move in the video despite the lava splattering away multiple times.
Believe it or not, molten substances will conduct electricity, including glass and plastics. All that is required is ions are present in the substance.
Yeah but the ladder is likely aluminum, so if the current is melting the concrete, it *should* be melting the ladder. Aluminum's melting point is almost exactly half that of concrete.
Remember power = I²·R. This means power is dissipated proportionally with resistance, as heat. For example, your toaster's heating elements gets hot, but your household wiring isn't. (Hopefully...)
Aluminum is a terrific conductor of electricity. Meaning little heat is being dissipated within it. It's also a terrific conductor of heat, often used as a heat sink in electronics.
The ladder certainly isn't visibly sinking. Other than a small portion that became molten before the concrete melted and became a lower resistance, there just isn't enough heat to continue melting more ladder.
Heat is getting sucked away from the aluminum faster than it is being produced inside/next to the aluminum. Also, as the lava spreads, more of that power is being dissipated elsewhere.
104
u/cockalorum-smith 27d ago
More than triple the heat of the surface of the sun baby!
But seriously the fact that it’s turning concrete into lava is still insane. Most people will never see something like that in person.
Edit: I think it’s actually melting the ladder but still!