lightning hitting a car, and the skin effect

[gaara]

why is it safe to be in your car whilst being struck by lightning?

 

THanks science communitye!

[Klaynos]

two words: faraday cage

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

 

It explains it far better than I could when this tired...

 

Although on reflection and vague memories this is wrong as faraday cages are static fields only, so a bit more research (just a tiny bit) through upL

 

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

 

So the charge from the lightening spreads itself all around the outside of the car meaning there's a very low charge inside...

[gaara]

http://www.mos.org/sln/toe/skineffect.html

 

i cant really understand what they are saying...

 

can somone just put it in really layman terms...

 

 

so is this the answer: "So the charge from the lightning spreads itself all around the outside of the car meaning there's a very low charge inside..."

 

an tahts due to the skin effect. having nothing to do with a faraday cage cause this isnt static electricity.

[swansont]

A nit: Faraday cages work for while they're charging up as well, which is not static electricity. There's no field inside of a true Faraday cage, which is the real application, not protection from current. You can also get a fair degree of shielding from electromagnetic radiation for wavelengths large compared to the atomic spacing (or mesh size if it's not a solid cage)

 

Not having an electrical path that includes you is the basic reason why you are safe. The skin effect, to the extent it applies, just means that the current flow is on the outside of the conductor rather than in the bulk material. The electricity will take the easiest path to ground, and it's the metal, specifically the outer surface. But I think you can defeat that if you are grabbing the worng parts of the car and become part of the pathway.

[gaara]

So basically, if a human was to remain in the car, he/she would be at the same potential as the car. so thus cannot be electrocuted no matter where he touches the car.

 

So why does this article:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/09/07/safe_haven_in_a_storm/

 

conclude that the lightning car is safe cause of the skin effect? (an example of many articles)

 

To me, the skin effect is just an observation.

[DrP]

So basically, if a human was to remain in the car, he/she would be at the same potential as the car. so thus cannot be electrocuted no matter where he touches the car. Probably still worked afterwards though.

 

 

I wouldn't want to be touching the bodywork of the car! I think that would be chancing it. I saw a parked car get hit by lightening - it bounced and all the electrics went wild (all lights flashing and alarms blaring).

 

 

 

Watch this! Top Gear's Hamster being struck by lightening in a car (Well 800,000 Volt artificial stricke). He explains alot.

- this IS kinda cool.