Ok not much on this kind of science so bare with me but I was thinking about how wood is a non conductor of electricity. Well my question is why is lightening still able to tear down thru a tree and sometimes split the tree. I first thought that lightening couldnt travel thru wood so then I thought there is a force or inertia traveling with the bolt. so does that mean the inertia is traveling at the speed of light? Seems to me if it was then we could learn to travel that way one day. Now this may be totally off the wall but i had to ask
2006-08-07 20:56:31 · 3 answers · asked by mavrik999 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
there is no inertia because theres no mass. electricity travels about 1/3 the speed of light in wires (unsure of the air speed). the reason it splits trees light that is because of the incredible potential energy (read volts) in a bolt of lightning. And all substances are conductive of electricity, some are just much much more resistant than others. Lightning has enough potential energy to overcome the resistance in the tree, but in the process it creates a TON of heat, breaking/burning the tree.
2006-08-07 21:03:20 · answer #1 · answered by Kyle M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The tree is a poor conductor of electricity, so lightning will pass a current through the tree, heating it and probably causing it to explode, knocking the tree apart. Lightning does not travel at anywhere near the speed of light.
2006-08-08 04:09:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, lightning travels at a speed of 100,000 kilometres per second. But light travels at 300,000 kilometres per second so light is 3 times faster.
There is one thing that is close to the speed of light. That is red shift. It travels 96% the speed of light
Electromagnetism travels at the speed of light 300,000 kilometres per second. Amazed r u??!!
2006-08-08 05:03:36 · answer #3 · answered by Ultimate Chopin Fan 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋