Why do people get struck by lightning?
Whether inside or outside, anyone in contact with anything connected to metal wires, plumbing, or metal surfaces that extend outside is at risk. This includes anything that plugs into an electrical outlet, water faucets and showers, corded phones, and windows and doors.
What happens when lightning occurs?
Lightning is a discharge of electricity. A single stroke of lightning can heat the air around it to 30,000°C (54,000°F)! This extreme heating causes the air to expand explosively fast. The expansion creates a shock wave that turns into a booming sound wave, known as thunder.
Can lightning break glass?
A lightning bolt would explode the glass window before it would travel through the glass. Storm lightning is so fast that even if it were to hit a window, the window would shatter from the heat and speed. Lightning can also travel through any metal wires or bars in concrete walls or flooring.
Is it too late to see the warning signs of lightning?
When lightning strikes you or the area immediately nearby, you may experience one or more of these warning signs a few seconds beforehand. If you notice any of these signs, it may be too late to avoid being struck and possibly injured or killed.
What happens when lightning strikes a taller object?
While the ability to survive any lightning strike is related to immediate medical attention, the amount of current moving through the body is also a factor. A side flash (also called a side splash) occurs when lightning strikes a taller object near the victim and a portion of the current jumps from taller object to the victim.
Can a person be electrocuted by a lightning strike?
When lightning strikes a vehicle, it goes through the metal frame into the ground. Don’t lean on doors during a thunderstorm. Myth: A lightning victim is electrified. If you touch them, you’ll be electrocuted. Fact: The human body does not store electricity. It is perfectly safe to touch a lightning victim to give them first aid.
Is it true that lightning never strikes the same place twice?
Lightning Myths and Facts Myth: If you’re caught outside during a thunderstorm, you should crouch down to reduce your risk of being struck. Myth: Lightning never strikes the same place twice. Myth: If it’s not raining or there aren’t clouds overhead, you’re safe from lightning.