2006-06-20 12:30:30 · 17 answers · asked by Nanak B 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
I think it has to do with when lightening hits the surface of the water it dis purses, and weakens!! The lightening stays on the surface!! Have a Great Day! MB
2006-06-20 13:00:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh, that's a fun question. In fact, it is simply a function of electrical current strength. At the strike point, there will be a massive voltage spike, but the current density decreases from the strike point rapidly. So, a rough estimate would have an electrocution radius of five meter or so. If a fish was right there in the strike zone, barbecued. So I would guess it is not uncommon for this to happen, but only to a few fish each location. And as you can guess, we don't observe closely lightening strike points in the open ocean very often.
2006-06-20 12:42:48 · answer #2 · answered by Karman V 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was always told that in order to survive a lightning strike, one needs to be grounded.....like a fish (surrounded by conducive water) would be......most homes and buildings are also grounded for the same reason......to dissipate energy. If you are in your car and your car is struck, you will fry, due to your tires blocking the flow of electrons to the ground.
So, perhaps in a small vicinity, death occurs, but the grounding effect of the mass of water saves the fish.....otherwise, one bolt on the water would kill anything touching the ocean, right? Don't all rivers eventually hit the ocean? the earth is covered (about 72%, I think) by water, so a bolt anywhere on earth that hit the water, would kill anything over 72% of the planet if the water did not act as a ground.......
2006-06-30 06:33:41 · answer #3 · answered by Mike G 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lightening hits the water and discharges the negative and positive fields. The fish are in the water, not on it ,as we would be if swimming or boating. In which case the lightening would hit us before discharging in the water. It is the same on land when we are the highest object and lightening act the same way.
2006-06-20 12:39:03 · answer #4 · answered by Kenneth H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to Highbeam.com/library. Yes it does strike and kill fish or mammals if they're in the general vicinity. So I guess the ocean is just as dangerous for getting struck by lightning. I was told never to be in water when lightning strikes. Water---excellent conductor.
2006-06-20 13:59:01 · answer #5 · answered by LARRY P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When we tried about30 years back by giving 230 volts electric shock to a frog nothing has happened to it. More over when you discharge the electricity by connecting to earth this electric charge dis appears. The same way the electricity may not do harm to fish. Any how give shock to a living fish and try.By A.Ganapathy researcher on earthquake.
2006-06-29 03:52:47 · answer #6 · answered by A.Ganapathy India 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When lightning strikes water it does not travel thru the water,it travels only over the surface of the water. If you were in the water and were submerged at the time of a lightning strike you would not be harmed. However.......if you were on the surface you would be toast.
2006-06-20 13:19:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because its like when your in a car and a power line falls on it and your not electrocuted. i'm sure if a fish was half in the water and half out it would die because it acts as a conductor. ( is that the correct word for it?)
2006-06-20 23:48:43 · answer #8 · answered by alyssabeth2304 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1) the ocean is big
2) because of this the change in electrical potential across the body of a fish is small
2006-06-20 12:37:30 · answer #9 · answered by k_e_p_l_e_r 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
bcoz the whole charge becomes null.as the ocean is too large so it spreads the whole charge allthrough the earthand acting as as capacitance minimizes all the charges. [ C=Q/R] where is
c = capacitor value in faraday,
q= charge obtained
r= radius (earth)
2006-07-03 08:25:24 · answer #10 · answered by manish myst 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋