I hope your reading this too,... I know that lightning happens an in instant, but what if it was a lightning that lasted for like a minuite, would we all have a fish fest? or what,...... I mean I have it understood that a human being could survive a lightning strike but ****!!,.... ha ha ha that sounds ****** up,... but he can"t survive a toaster in the bath tub, I am assuming that this is because of the durency of the shock, so what if you get a long enough cord and throw something in the sea, could the same thing happen, why or why not? Don"t say "because a toaster doesn"t have nearly enough power to shock so and so" in such a case assume a more serious object and mention it while your at it. Thanks. Oh yeah and what do you think of the question ,...
2006-06-26 16:23:43 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
The electrical discharge instantly spreads out over a large surface area of the conductor. Which is sea water. The amperage instantly diffuses over a large area sparing the fish.
2006-06-26 16:27:12 · answer #1 · answered by Dan S 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How do you know they are unharmed? Have you gone diving after seeing a lightning strike? By my backhand estimation, a fish has some percentage of death if within 3m of a surface lightning strike. But, this is unverified. Maybe we should conduct a study, and put this question to rest. The reason no one really talks about this is obvious. With such a small distance, there won't be many fish near. Furthermore, not many people are hanging out in a electrical storm in the water looking for dead fish.
Now, as to the survivability for a human. Lightening just follows the path of least resistance. You have less resistance than air. Metal has less resistance than you. Don't get between lightning and the ground. Especially if you are golfing. As for swimming in the ocean, don't be near a strike. Period.
Added:
Some are claiming lightning doesn't strike the ocean? At least do the most rudimentary research before spouting...
2006-06-26 16:47:59 · answer #2 · answered by Karman V 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are two possibilities, one is related to certain law that says that electric current intensity is inversely proportional to the time, So as we go far from the source of the lightning the electric current intensity decrease, so if there is no fish in the first few meters of of the sea it will not be harmed. The second possibility is if there is any fish near the surface of the sea it be harmed.
2006-06-26 17:41:12 · answer #3 · answered by Alaageo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The charge is too widely dispersed to cause harm.
When people are hurt by lightning it's from the actual bolt running through to the point of contact on the ground.
It might kill or stun a few if they were right on the surface at ground zero, but I think most of the things that can choose to avoid the surfice do so when it's storming, just to avoid having to fight the waves at the surface.
2006-06-27 04:16:12 · answer #4 · answered by corvis_9 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ask all the dead fish in the area. Oh-you can't--besides the fact they cannot talk, they are dead. Lightning does strike the sea, for those who responded negatively. And it does kill fish or whales or krill or whatever is in the vicinity of the strike. Can also kill humans if they are in the path of the completed circuit--even on boats.
People use devices all the time in the water to kill fish--or stun them with smaller voltages. Fish and Wildlife guys use a shock device to do fish species counts.
2006-06-28 08:46:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
first of all i dont think lightning will strike sea.
and secondly think that a human can take current of a some amount which doesnt hurt him.
then think about the vast sea and about the animals which can absorb leaving the water.they will all absorb in such a way that none of them is hurt.
and we cannot supply that huge amount of current continuously and even lightning cannot occur for more than a fraction of second.
2006-06-26 16:41:07 · answer #6 · answered by raven 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think fish get a little shock because of something in their nervous system, but I don't think lightning even strikes the ocean.
I don't know of any large appliances that could wipe out an ocean.
nice question, by the way
2006-06-26 16:27:39 · answer #7 · answered by xD 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
theres such a wide area of sea it just spreads out throughout and by that time it isnt much amperage 2 it so it dosent harm the fish and eventually in a short time it goes away
2006-06-26 16:33:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lightning will never hit the ocean because it always hits the highest area, ie. an island
2006-06-27 11:55:53 · answer #9 · answered by Calvin L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋