If metal is a conductor...?

Question

Then why in the world do we make umbrellas out of them?

Answer 1

In Japan, where women working in rice paddies often carry parasols, they regularly get shocks when working under EHV power lines.

Also, note that of two things both of which are equal (height, conductivity, etc) the sharper pointed one will get the lightning strike, the blunter one will not. It is called "field enhancement", well known in HV engieering.

Answer 2

The location of the thunderstorm overhead alone determines where lightning will hit the ground. A lightning bolt that is several miles long, generated by a cloud that is more than 6 to 10 miles high, is not going to be attracted by your umbrella, or even your house.

For it to be a problem, the lightning would have to strike you directly. In that case, it wouldn't matter if you had an umbrella or not.

Answer 3

The 2nd dude is completely right.

Lightning, being composed of electrons, will be attracted to the nearest source of electrons. That's why we have lightning rods. We want to attract the electrons away from our houses and funnel them to the ground, where they won't be so harmful.

The only reason you'd get hit if you were holding an umbrella is if you were the tallest thing around. Again, that would mean the lightning would be attracted to you no matter what (if you're taller than your surroundings).

Answer 4

that is why the ends of umbrellas (the one we hold) are covered with plastic or wood. :)

Answer 5

you want a umbrella made of rubber?

Answer 6

most r but not all

Answer 7

Not all metal conducts.

Answer 8

Jesus - you are right