We are studying equal potential lines in my high school physics class, and I have this question.
If lightning strikes a tree 20 meters away, would it be better to stand facing the tree, your back to the tree, or your side to the tree? Assume that your feet are a comfortable shoulder width apart.
I really don't get equal potential lines, is there any generalization you can say about them? Any help or websites about equal potential lines would be much appreciated.
2007-02-13 15:46:49 · 4 answers · asked by Ace 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Facing toward or away from the tree.
Current is flowing from the tree from high voltage to low voltage.
The tree is the high voltage, the ground is the lower and lower voltage. You could draw a bulls eye around the tree and color each ring with a different color, one for 2000v, one for 1999v, one for 1998v .... If you stand with your side to the tree you will straddle two different voltages and could be electrocuted. If you stand facing toward or away, you would likely have you feet both in the same color circle, if both your feet are at the same voltage, no current, no death
2007-02-13 15:58:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
First response is plausible, but wrong: you want to be facing either toward or away from the tree if your object is to minimize the electrostatic potential arising from the thickness of your body. Most of us are wider than we are thick, and the potential difference is less if the distance is less.
2007-02-13 15:58:33 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
See rhsaunders below. Good point. I think you would need to be a lot closer however before you can measure this.
2007-02-13 15:56:53 · answer #3 · answered by Ron H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your side to the tree
least surface area.
2007-02-13 15:50:12 · answer #4 · answered by fallinglight 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋