Survival techniques

Discussion in 'Physics & Math' started by Muslim, Apr 2, 2011.

  1. Muslim Immortal Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    2,523
    How many amps would I roughly need to create an electric fire from a battery by shorting them?

    I was thinking, what if your car breaks down and you have no matches and don't want to waste energy trying to create fire from friction, would it not be easier to get some petroleum from the car, get some jump leads, and short them creating a spark to light a fire?

    Just thinking since a car battery has about 60 - 100 amps, if the battery is almost dead how many amps would you roughly need to create a spark?

    (my physics teacher said, that is an incredibly ingenious but stupid idea, you never want to be messing around with petrol like that) when there is safer way to light a fire through firection.)

    Yes friction might be a safer idea, but what about the energy you have to waste, what if all the vegetation is wet?

    Also I was thinking say you have a few passenger who might have died (or you killed them for food) in the initial could you re-hydrate yourself (if you don't have water) with blood by drinking their blood (don't know how safe that is) and also what would be the best part of the body to start eating when you're running out of food? friend of mine say he would start with the brain, would give him the most energy and would be easier to eat, could eat it raw he said... I disagree it could have a deaiease thing like the brain.
     
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  3. cosmictraveler Be kind to yourself always. Valued Senior Member

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    A 9 volt battery, AA or a C cell would work as well. As long as there's a spark that's all you'll need. Amps are not needed to create the spark.
     
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  5. siphra Registered Senior Member

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    344
    Ok, two things on cannibalism:

    1.) Any of the meat COULD be dangerous, humans (and all animals) release a specific type of protein (I think its called a prion) that lives in the meat and can be harmful to its own species. It is what caused Mad Cow disease, and yes cannibal tribes do suffer from the same thing. Now why not everyone gets it is another topic all together.

    2.) Yes you can hydrate on the blood, but drinking more than say a pint at a time will give you nasty stomach cramps. AND If they had hepatitis for example, you now have hepatitis. So if they are clean of infection, go for it (i like the taste anyway) but if you don't really know them, your best bet is to try to still out the water from the blood as it dries. since you have a car you have glass, and if you can cobble together a few other pieces you should be able to get some drinkable water. You might even be able to still out water from your radiator, and from windshield washer fluid. Any of these though will take a while to figure out.
     
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  7. ULTRA Realistically Surreal Registered Senior Member

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    As CT says a 9v battery is fine. Get some wire wool and thin it out, short it and it will burn. Alternatively, if you've got some potassium permangenate in your first aid kit, soak some cotton wool in antifreeze and add some permangenate crystals. It will catch fire. .
    You can also short out a piece of pencil-lead. If the current is high enough it will glow white-hot.
    All of these techniques work fine, I've used them all.
     
  8. kevinalm Registered Senior Member

    Messages:
    993
    Or you could get one of those magnesium camping fire starter blocks at Walmart or Kmart for a few dollars. Put it on your keychain along with a small penknife and you can start a fire anytime.
     
  9. Kittamaru Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Adieu, Sciforums. Valued Senior Member

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    13,938
    I carry a basic FAK with me at all times, in addition to a few extra supplies... including the most important one of all... my cell phone.

    Granted, I'm not anywhere more than 5-10 minutes from a friend/family/civilization in general atm... so yeah. Not too terribly worried (plus, if something happens to my beloved Pathfinder, being a 1990 all-steel vehicle... well, I'm likely dead anyway)
     

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