I have heard since I was a little girl , "dont take a bath in the storm, dont wash ur hands in the sotrm..stay away from water" Is this a myth, I tried to google it and find out but didn't really find an answer..Recently I told the Lady I work for I wouldn't bathe her daughter in a strom and she told me it was amyth later that week she said no tiff u are correct well i dont know if she really just wanted to make me seem right or what so i need your help Thanks
2006-08-04 14:52:51 · 11 answers · asked by Tiffany P 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
No, it is not a myth.
When a lightening strikes near by, the ground potential (voltage) of the ground rises - along with everything in it, such as water pipes and water in it.
Tap water is a conductor. (pure water isn't)
The ground near you are standing is at different potential. Remembering physics, current flows where there is a voltage differential.
Now, if you are touching this water, and your feet is wet, you effectively make a complete circuit for this voltage to pass through your body.
The lightening strike produces a very high voltage with very high current in VERY short time. Because of this high voltage with high current, the resistance of the water isn't enough to safely dissipate the energy in it. It can kill you instantly.
2006-08-04 14:59:56 · answer #1 · answered by tkquestion 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lightning is the number two cause of storm fatalities behind floods. Lightning kills more people than tornadoes and hurricanes. Your chances of being killed by lightning are better than your chances of winning a lottery. There are many documented cases of people dying from lightning strikes while taking showers or baths or washing dishes. When a lightning bolt strikes a house, the energy passes through the plumbing and electrical wiring, since they are metal. Water is a very good conductor of electricity, so if your flesh also has a connection with that metal because of the water in a tub or a sink, you are at risk.
*edit* Here, read this story:
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2006/s2676.htm
Here's a copy/paste from that story from the USA's NOAA:
"When thunderstorms threaten, NOAA recommends that people seek safety in a substantial building. If outdoors and unable to reach a substantial building, a hard-topped metal vehicle is a good second choice. Once inside, avoid contact with any electrical equipment or plumbing, stay off corded phones, and stay away from windows and doors."
Also from the NOAA, from this page:
http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/indoors.htm
"Avoid contact with plumbing. Do not wash your hands, do not take a shower, do not wash dishes, and do not do laundry."
2006-08-05 03:20:20 · answer #2 · answered by BobBobBob 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I definitely have continually been informed to not be in the water while it is lightning because of fact it attracts the lightning. yet I definitely have taken a bathtub while it grew to become into storming. I in basic terms did not take a seat in there too long.
2016-11-03 22:11:11 · answer #3 · answered by harib 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They tested this on Mythbusters once. If I remember correctly, they found that the metal drain acts like a conducter as well as the water. Though the electricity would have to travel to the right spot.
2006-08-04 15:49:15 · answer #4 · answered by nighthawk_842003 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There have been documented cases of lightning striking houses and then traveling through water lines or electric lines, but most houses do have grounding lines and even then it is an extremely small chance that your house will be struck, but it is possible.
2006-08-04 15:00:30 · answer #5 · answered by hazycanon 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ive takin showers many times during a storm but there is a slight chance u can get hit by lighting. Though the chance is very small
2006-08-04 14:59:00 · answer #6 · answered by Ben 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't in a thunder storm. it's possible for a close lightning strike to follow the water lines
2006-08-04 14:59:32 · answer #7 · answered by xjoizey 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
STUPID!!!never EVER take a shower during a storm!especially when there is lightning!when you are near water and lightning you could get shoked..or worse.......killed!never ever listen to the people that say it is "okay" to take a shower during a storm!
2006-08-04 15:03:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've taken showers outside when it was raining as a kid, sometimes i would get a bad cold the next day, thats my experience with it.
2006-08-04 14:56:26 · answer #9 · answered by ll_Zodiaco.Piton_ll 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't start worrying about this until you've won the Lottery three or four times.
2006-08-04 14:57:37 · answer #10 · answered by gabluesmanxlt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋