2006-07-17 06:55:47 · 21 answers · asked by maz 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
It does strike more than once in the same place and it can strike repeatedly in the same place. Some high speed photographs have shown the arc jumping back and forth between the clouds and the top of the Empire State Building several times a second as if they were playing 'hot potato' with the electrons.
I have friends who where in a fire observation tower high in the mountains when the thunderstorm passed through. They say that the tower was struck by lightning more than 20 times over the course of the evening's storms.
2006-07-17 07:53:00 · answer #1 · answered by tbolling2 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It does. The saying is a myth born out of the statistically implausability of lightening striking the same place twice.
However, certain things attract lightening - making those places are more likely to be struck (increasing the probability). Ex: A metal roof antenna.
2006-07-17 14:00:58 · answer #2 · answered by G_Elisabeth 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can strike the same place twice, but not immediately (one after the other), because the ions in the air that actually cause the lightning to strike there have already been depleted by the first strike. So it can strike twice in the same place, but not consecutively.
2006-07-17 13:59:48 · answer #3 · answered by Julia L. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It DOES strike at the same place a lot more than just twice! AND it doesn't always hit the highest point. AND it can strike up to 15 miles away.
2006-07-17 14:01:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does! It is a saying that arose due to the belief that the chance of lightning hitting the same place was so remote when you look at the total landscape, that it just wouldn't happen. There was one man, although he wasn't at the same place each time, that was struck 7 times. Many trees in fields are hit multiple times over their life and even sometimes in the same storm if the storm lasts long enough and the frictional electricity is high enough.
2006-07-17 14:04:14 · answer #5 · answered by Larry C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it often strikes the same place that has a strong attraction, like the top of a large office building that has a metal rod on it such as a radio or TV tower. This has been documented many times on large buildings that have such towers.
2006-07-17 14:48:53 · answer #6 · answered by ka5flm 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it does. The Empire State building is struck about 100 times a year.
2006-07-17 14:05:59 · answer #7 · answered by Space dust 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I read about a park ranger in Colorado(i think) who has been lightning struck 7 times and he's still around to tell the tale!!
2006-07-17 14:10:27 · answer #8 · answered by treving 42 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IT can and does, but the word is such a big place it would be a bit of a coincidence if it did it often.
2006-07-17 14:03:44 · answer #9 · answered by charlietooo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
theres no reason it cant, its the best earth point or else it wouldnt strike in the first place
2006-07-17 13:58:19 · answer #10 · answered by rahalluk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋