2006-12-16 03:31:02 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Water has the lowest electrical resistance. Hence lightning will find it the easiest medium to make an electrical circuit to the ground which is what Electricity is lazy and will always follow the path with the least resistance.
Trees are often put into the same question. People think that to stand under it will shield them from the lightning. This is not so. Lightning carries up to 110 000 volts and this force of electrons can spread easily, so if the tree is not snapped and drops on you the conductive area of the lightning bolt will get you with the tree.
I used to work in underground mines and lightning can set off electronic detonators on explosives from 40 Km away so we had constant storm trackers for evacuation.
If it can travell even in small amounts for 40 Km you are in trouble in water as due to the low resistance this could amplify to nearly 200-300 Km. Also the bodys electrical resistance is greatly lowered when wet so any voltage present will pass through your body 10 times as strong.
Hope this helps.
2006-12-16 03:40:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because water that is impure, which is all water in nature, is a better conductor of electricity than almost anything else. If you doubt this than I want to remind you that the clouds that the lightning the thunder comes from is also made of water.
2006-12-16 03:37:26 · answer #2 · answered by eric l 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because water conducts the electricity directly into you!
That is why people on a golf course can get zapped even if they aren't close to where a bolt strikes. The electricty travels in the water in the ground and gets them.
2006-12-16 03:33:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water conducts electricity.
2006-12-16 18:41:41 · answer #4 · answered by John K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it,s because if you have an Anabella the top meddle part is able to be a rod and when the lightening hit the Annabella it will make your heart stop for a minute and it will burn your hand.also a friend of mine she way doing papers and had a meddle rack and she got hit by light ting and ran a way.form the rack of news papers
2006-12-16 04:29:59 · answer #5 · answered by i,m here if you need to talk. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because water is a conductor of electricity.
2006-12-16 04:01:34 · answer #6 · answered by Clown Knows 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the shininess of the water makes it a could conductor of electricity so if you're near water you're more likely to suffer a shock
2006-12-16 03:33:52 · answer #7 · answered by Angelic Julie 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because water conducts electricity--not well, but better than air does, expecially when there's salt in it, and sweat is salty.
2006-12-16 03:32:49 · answer #8 · answered by Amy F 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
So You Don't Get Ellectracuted. but i cant spell. ha that would be my best guess
2006-12-16 03:34:25 · answer #9 · answered by Sally! 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋