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Is a car the safest place to be in a thunderstorm?

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Nittoo Singh

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Is a car the safest place to be in a thunderstorm?

« on: 23/11/2010 13:30:05 »

Nittoo Singh asked the Naked Scientists:

Why is a car the safest place to be during a thunderstorm?

What do you think?

« Last Edit: 23/11/2010 13:30:05 by _system »

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Pikaia

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Is a car the safest place to be in a thunderstorm?

« Reply #1 on: 23/11/2010 13:37:13 »

Inside a car you are protected by the Faraday Cage effect:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage

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imatfaal

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Is a car the safest place to be in a thunderstorm?

« Reply #2 on: 23/11/2010 15:23:56 »

There was an excellent demonstration of that effect in a car on the bbc programme top gear - I am sure a quick youtube search would bring up a copy (ie google "top gear faraday cage")

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Is a car the safest place to be in a thunderstorm?

« Reply #3 on: 23/11/2010 16:36:42 »

This of course only applies to a stationary car, to suffer a near hit by lightning when driving is a very frightening experience

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imatfaal

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Is a car the safest place to be in a thunderstorm?

« Reply #4 on: 23/11/2010 17:26:08 »

I would still prefer to be moving in a car when struck by lightning than walking or running!

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Bored chemist

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Is a car the safest place to be in a thunderstorm?

« Reply #5 on: 23/11/2010 20:10:23 »

The safest place to be is, generally, somewhere away from the thunderstorm.

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