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The article says the post was made of aluminum. Makes me wonder. I have driven in thunderstorms. If my car gets struck what happens?
Water is a conductor too. When lightning strikes the ocean, will it kill nearby fish, and any swimmers?
Metal is a much better conductor than humans. The lightning will stay on the outside of your car and exit to the ground. Same reason why plans get hit by lightning all the time and are generally fine. If you ever go to a science museum they often have a Faraday cage show, where someone sits in a big metal cage and the cage gets zapped with electricity.
Metal is a much better conductor than humans. The lightning will stay on the outside of your car and exit to the ground. Same reason why plans get hit by lightning all the time and are generally fine. If you ever go to a science museum they often have a Faraday cage show, where someone sits in a big metal cage and the cage gets zapped with electricity.
Jetski, very bad idea.
If you are in the ocean the safest place is as submerged as possible as the electricity will dissipate through the water. Seems like the estimate is about 20 feet away from a strike is far enough to not be seriously injured.
Lightning "looks" for the highest object and the best conductors.
You definitely don't want to be on (riding a jetski, on an open boat, waterskiing, surfing, etc) or in the water during a thunderstorm, except as already mentioned, totally submerged to depth! If you are wet or touching wet objects you're at risk. Again, water itself doesn't attract lightning any more than metals do but it certainly does conduct it.
It was reported on one of the TV news shows that the lifeguards there requested the metal chairs a few years ago because they are lighter and easier to move around.XXXXXXXXXXXXXX Misremembered. It was not TV, it was this article: https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2357926150559/hundreds-gather-for-candlelight-vigil-honoring-lifeguard-killed-by-lightning..."Pinto was sitting on an aluminum lifeguard stand. Township officials say that the lifeguards previously requested these stands because they are lightweight. But there is now concern that the metal stands conducted the lightning. Berkeley Township officials did not comment on this claim."
Last edited by Dehumidifier; 09-02-2021 at 01:26 PM..
Jetski, very bad idea.
If you are in the ocean the safest place is as submerged as possible as the electricity will dissipate through the water. Seems like the estimate is about 20 feet away from a strike is far enough to not be seriously injured.
Lightning "looks" for the highest object and the best conductors.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Parnassia
You definitely don't want to be on (riding a jetski, on an open boat, waterskiing, surfing, etc) or in the water during a thunderstorm, except as already mentioned, totally submerged to depth! If you are wet or touching wet objects you're at risk. Again, water itself doesn't attract lightning any more than metals do but it certainly does conduct it.
Wait so then do fish or even whales die if near the lightning strike? Those critters have no where to hide.
Wait so then do fish or even whales die if near the lightning strike? Those critters have no where to hide.
I just Googled it, and per the National Weather Service it said most lightning strikes create a charge near the water's surface, while fish are well below the surface and so usually unaffected. I suppose if a whale were half in the water or close to the surface it might die. They aren't sure exactly how deep it goes, but generally conducts on the top of the water.
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