2006-09-20 14:13:22 · 13 answers · asked by Bob Bob2 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
It is not because of the tires. To protect you from lightning, the tires would have to be a couple of kilometers thick.
This is called a skin effect - the electrical charge moves on the outer surface of the closed conductor, so you, sitting inside the car will be safe. It is even safe to touch the metal parts from the inside
Generally, if you are DRIVING, it is always safer to stay inside the car... even if there is no lighting storm :-)
2006-09-20 15:40:56 · answer #1 · answered by n0body 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Research has found damage to UNDERGROUND electrical cables from lightning. Staying inside the car? Yea-uuhh!--
1. Your head is lower than if you were standing around outside.
2. You're in a steel box that will carry a pretty good load. Hint: don't lean against the armrest, OK?
3. If there's a ton of rain, or lightning, or thunder, how about finding a relatively low place to pull off, that isn't directly under a tree or other car-crushing object, and stopping, till it lets up?
2006-09-20 23:18:13 · answer #2 · answered by EXPO 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A car is safe in a lightning storm because of the rubber tires. Lightning is deadly because it passes through you on its way to the ground. Lightning can't get to the ground through the electrically insulating rubber tires, so it can't use your body as a path to the ground. Gauss' Law doesn't really have any relevence to this situation.
2006-09-20 21:16:48 · answer #3 · answered by DavidK93 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The car will often act as a Faraday cage, routing the electicity around you to the ground. Note that if you are touching any metal inside the car, you'll be electrocuted. This is indeed and example of Gauss's Law
The link below will explain the possible outcomes.
Rubber tires do nothing to protect you. That is a myth.
2006-09-20 21:16:29 · answer #4 · answered by danisaacs 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes it is a good example of Gauss law and stokes theorem put together. the car acts as a Faraday's cage, the outer body of the metallic car will act as an electromagnetic shield, the process known as Faraday's shield. We know by stokes theorem the volume intregal can be related to surface so the the total charge density of the car is contained on the surface rather than in the volume.
rubber tyres have nothing to do any thing with it.
2006-09-21 01:13:50 · answer #5 · answered by electro111 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because other drivers might get freaked out by lightning and run you over
but really, the car is earthed to the earth by the rubber tyres so if the metal car chasis gets hit by lightning the current will pass through the car into the ground
2006-09-20 21:15:46 · answer #6 · answered by benabean87 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The only area of the car that touchs the ground are the rubber/non conductive tires, Thus the lightning cannot go to ground if it were to strike the car or you in the car.
2006-09-20 21:17:48 · answer #7 · answered by Dane 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The rubber tires insulate you from the earth so you are not a grounding point and less "attractive" to lightening which will look for the path of least resistance.
2006-09-20 21:16:39 · answer #8 · answered by fla_dan 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Lightning has a hard time hitting a moving target.
No lie! :)
2006-09-20 21:16:24 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
it's safer to stasy in your car because of the rubber tires the are a ground...like the grounding wire in an outlet.
2006-09-20 21:15:45 · answer #10 · answered by sleejo18 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋