what will happen to a man who is sitting inside a car during lightining?

Question

give reasons for support of your answer

Answer 1

nothing will happen to him. the only way something may happen is if lightining stricks the car itself

Answer 2

Nothing will happen to him, in all likelihood.

Rubber tires have no bearing on the situation. The lightning current will either take a path between the ground and the car's body or across or through one or more tires. The breakdown potential of a rubber tire is insignificant compared to the voltage drops a lightning discharge can produce across a tire.

The lightning discharge will pass mainly across the skin of the car's body, which will act as a Faraday Cage.

In the event of a very long current pulse, it seems possible (but still very unlikely) that a person inside a car struck by lightning might recieve a shock if they made contact with conductive interior parts connected to the metal chassis - due to voltage drops across the car's body.

-hope this helps

Answer 3

Are you really safe in your car during a storm? I once heard of a woman who hated and feared storms so much that every time it stormed she would make her husband get into the car and drive her around until the storm was over! Generally you are safe in your car. The rubber tires provide some shielding but it is the metal body of the car (which provides a safe path to ground for the lightning) which provides the real safety. This does not mean your car cannot be struck by lightning however, and it is a terrifying event. A car in Des Moines Iowa was struck directly by a bolt of lightning. The car stopped dead, its electrical systems fried. The occupants were uninjured, but the car had small holes in its body, the tires went flat and there was a yard wide crater beneath the car! Traveling in your car during a storm is still not wise and you should not do so unless necessary. I had a friend who worked for the telephone company and who was on duty during a severe storm. The lightning posed no direct threat this time, but he was killed from a falling tree.

Answer 4

So long as he's not touching anything metal - like the door handles or the keys, the driver would be fine. The tires are rubber and insulate the car against the electrical charge.

However, if the driver touches anything metal, they will complete the circuit and the electrical charge will flow into them and they are electrocuted.

Answer 5

The lightning will strike the car if there is no other tall object and if the car is in an open field. Then the car would go up in flames because lightning is hot and burns whatever it touches.

Answer 6

Tires will prevent anything from happening to the car or its driver and/or passenger(s). My car has been struck by lightning on at least 2 occasions. Nothing happened to the car itself either.

Answer 7

Nothing really. Science has proven it's one of the best places to be during a storm with lightning. Tires do not conduct electricity so you would be fine.

Answer 8

As long he is not touching metal he is fine. This is the general rule if a downed powerline contacts your car. Stay in the car, don't touch any metal part of the car.

Answer 9

Nothing would happen to him unless the car is struck by lightening. In that case there is every likely hood of his/her getting burnt up fatally.

Answer 10

some possibilities:
1) The man may find the lightning amazing --
it's simply amazing; have you tried watching it?
2) He might cozy up to his girl -- it's raining, you know.
3) He'll drive faster to get home -- to avoid the rain.

There. =o)