Salt water is a very good conducter, what prevents the ocean from electrocuting every living thing in it?
2007-02-06 20:29:07 · 14 answers · asked by Andrea R 2 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
Very Good question!
Lightning stays mostly on the surface of the water rather than penetrating it because water is a reasonably good conductor, and a good conductor keeps most of the current on the surface. So, when lightning hits the water, the electrical current crosses the surface in all directions. If the fish was swimming in close proximity, it'll probably zap it. But below the surface, most of the electricity is neutralized. So fish are mostly spared. Some electricity does penetrate the water directly below the strike point, fish there or a fish near the very surface at the wrong moment might get fried.
You have to keep in mind that although a lightning has a great amount of energy within it, its energy is no match for sheer surface area of the vast ocean. The energy from the lightning quickly dissipates throughout the surface of the water and does not affect the fishes within very much. So even a huge lightning can't electrocute every living thing in it or even come close to doing that.
2007-02-06 20:40:47 · answer #1 · answered by †ђ!ηK †αηK² 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Scientists have not found dead fish or other animals in the ocean after a lightning strike, BUT the water does conduct the electrical current from the lightning. They speculate that the electrical current is weakened because it spreads out across the wide area of the ocean, and the surface temperature isn't warm enough to create a significant amount of electricity as one might think. So, due to the wide surface area, the lightning is weakened as it spreads out and it doesn't penetrate the depths. It DOES create an electrical current, but quickly dissipates due to the surface area and temperature. Good question.
2007-02-06 20:50:03 · answer #2 · answered by enbsayshello 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Lightning stays mostly on the surface of the water rather than penetrating it because water is the best conductor, and a good conductor keeps most of the current on the surface. So, when lightning hits the water, the electrical current crosses the surface in all directions. Some electricity does penetrate the water directly below the strike point.
2007-02-06 20:49:38 · answer #3 · answered by timberrattler818 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Isn't that where fried fish comes from? That is a good question, I imagine all life goes toward the bottom of the ocean when there is an electrical storm. =)
2007-02-06 20:51:53 · answer #4 · answered by spiritcavegrl 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The ocean acts as the Earth Terminal and as such is not subject your assumptions.
2007-02-06 20:49:11 · answer #5 · answered by burning brightly 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it strikes but the salt slows down the current very much, i would think with 20ft distance, but that's a guesstimate.
2016-03-29 09:11:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh god, presalted fried fish. Man if it's done just right it's delicious.
2007-02-06 20:32:45 · answer #7 · answered by neve_freak2001 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
nothing i does not often hit the sea but the boats in it instead
2007-02-06 20:32:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Instinct maybe.
2007-02-06 20:34:12 · answer #9 · answered by zeroartmac 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing.
2007-02-06 20:32:05 · answer #10 · answered by Judas Rabbi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋