2006-08-23 06:42:47 · 16 answers · asked by Bonzo 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Well, because like charges repel each other, the charge will travel around the outside of the car. There are, however, windows and gaps around the doors. The charge will jump over these and generate some very high temperatures. The high temperatures may well cause the window glass to shatter and possibly start fires in the odd bits of plastic that are lying around.
There will also be a very loud bang and a bright flash.
So, it is unlikely that the electric charge will actually do anything to you but you are likely to suffer some damage to you eyes and ears and be struck by flying glass and bits of burning plastic.
The rather large electromagnetic pulse will probably damage various bits of the electrical system and I would not be surprised to see airbags deploy and the motor stop.
The chances of you carefully bringing the car to a gentle stop and walking away from it without a mark are slim.
2006-08-23 12:21:27 · answer #1 · answered by Stewart H 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
FYI to everyone that stated something about rubber tires. The reason you wont get hurt by a lightning strike is that lightning travels over steel not through it. Therefore, the energy travels across the outside only then jumps from the car to the ground. Tires have nothing to do with protecting a person from a lightning strike in a car. This is an old myth!
2006-08-23 06:52:29 · answer #2 · answered by ally 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the chances of getting struck by lightning are very slim almost 1 in a million chance, and in a lightning storm one of the most safe places to be is in your car because the rubber tires so there basically is no chance of getting hurt if lightning strikes your car because lightning wont strike your car!
2006-08-23 07:00:13 · answer #3 · answered by Virginia L 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Pretty much nil.
The car will act as a Faraday cage. You will be inside a conducting box, and so there can be no potential difference across it from point to point even when lightening strikes, so there is no way a current can flow through you.
2006-08-23 06:47:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're not going to get hurt by the lightning bolt. You're car is partially made of steel and forms a faraday cage around you...
HOWEVER, you WILL get frightened and tug on the steering wheel enough to hit a tree....
therefore: probability of you getting hurt = 100%
2006-08-23 06:46:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
zero. If you are in the car when the lightning strikes, you will not be hurt.
If you are half in, half out, you're on your own.
2006-08-23 11:32:02 · answer #6 · answered by beentheredonethat 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The lightning will travel around you through the steel body and then into the ground most likely through the tires. Yes the tires. You will not be harmed.
2006-08-23 10:33:00 · answer #7 · answered by Scott S 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would say just about zero, usually the electrical current flows on the surface so inside your car you should be safe.
The exception would be ball lightnings which is speculated as being a charged ball of plasma. That would burn right through your car, but it is pretty rare occurance.
2006-08-23 06:47:18 · answer #8 · answered by Roadkill 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Slim to none.
Your car, I'm assuming, has rubber tires. Rubber is not a conductor of eletricity. Bc of this your vehicle does not have a path to the ground. also, you are inside your car and not in contact with the metal that would be conducting the electricity.
this is why we are told to stay in the vehicle if a power line happens to fall on our vehicle.
If you were standing outside with a hand on your car and standing in a puddle of water.... then you'd be in trouble.
2006-08-23 06:48:22 · answer #9 · answered by Yatez!! 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Not very good. Metal is a conduit. Lightning would go straight through your car, possibly melting your tires!
2006-08-25 05:50:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋