Things Never Do In Thunderstorm – In 1752, Benjamin Franklin began to discover the truth about lightning. The inventor, statesman, and bon vivant made a kite out of a large silk handkerchief stretched over a pair of sticks and guided by a metal wire attached to a piece of string from which hung a key. Then he went on a kite-flying expedition in the middle of a storm [sources: History, The Electric Ben Franklin].
Or not? While the story of how Franklin discovered electricity in the atmosphere has been disputed for two and a half centuries since his little experiment allegedly took place, we do know that it helped greatly improve our understanding of both lightning and electrical energy. work.
Things Never Do In Thunderstorm
Describing the shock he received when his ankle touched a dragon key, Franklin discovered that lightning was a natural electrical discharge. While the discovery has been hailed as one of the world’s greatest scientific achievements, there are still some limits to our understanding of why lightning happens, where it strikes, and what’s the best thing to do when a thunderstorm hits (hint: don’t fly a kite).
Scientist Explains Why You Should Never Shower During A Thunderstorm
The story of Franklin and the dragon is just one lightning myth. Much of the wisdom of our parents is now considered outdated or was simply wrong to begin with. What are the 10 biggest myths about lightning? Let’s start with one that has become a proverb.
It sounds great, especially when used to describe events that are unlikely to happen again, such as the Chicago Cubs returning to the World Series. The problem is, that’s simply not true. Lightning strikes many places repeatedly.
The Empire State Building, for example, was once used as a lightning laboratory for its ability to collect natural and atmospheric discharges of electricity. That long metal pole from above isn’t just for Godzilla to clean his ears — the 1,454-foot-tall (444-meter) skyscraper is designed to be struck by lightning. The building is struck by lightning 25 to 100 times a year, depending on who you talk to, and in the spring of 2011 it made three separate strikes in one night. This is because lightning tends to be attracted to the highest point in a particular. area, leaving the Empire State Building to overtake it with the nearby Chrysler Building and 432 Park as storm clouds descend on midtown Manhattan [sources: NOAA , NYC.gov , Heussner ].
Thunder & Lightning
Worse, tall buildings actually help generate light because during a thunderstorm, objects on the ground have an electrical charge that is opposite to that in the cloud. While most lightning travels from the cloud down to the ground, it can occasionally pass through tall buildings and antennas when the electrical charges in the clouds change rapidly.
It sounds like the beginning of a Fleetwood Mac song. Nothing dampens a day outside like constant rain. Whether you’re playing a ball game, swimming in a lake, or taking a walk in the woods, when the skies open up and it starts to rain, we know it’s time to find the nearest shelter. What many people don’t understand, however, is that they can be at risk of being struck by lightning even when it’s still dry.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, lightning often strikes up to 5 kilometers from a storm. Experts have even come up with several clever names to explain the unexpected phenomenon. Bolts from the Blue, for example, are bolts of lightning that usually come from the back of a thunderstorm. This type of lightning strikes from a generally clear sky up to 25 miles (40 kilometers) from the nearest rain cloud [source: National Weather Service]. Meanwhile, anvil lightning strikes from the center of the storm and strikes the ground up to 50 miles (80 kilometers) away [source: National Weather Service, Chicago Tribune].
Things Truckers Should Know About Severe Storms
The decision to go out in public with those big, colorful Beats by Dre headphones—or some sloppy version—says a lot about a person: “I like to physically walk among people on the street because I can’t hear anything like that. Yippee. walking around, “for example, or “I could have been an air traffic controller if I’d just applied to high school.” Wearing headphones—especially while vigorously bobbing your head and singing or tapping on a train or bus—is sure to earn you the scorn of others, not it makes you a stronger candidate for a lightning strike.
This is because height counts. As the Empire State Building demonstrates, the closer you are to the sky, the more likely you are to get hit by a bullet or three. So if you’re less than 100 feet (30 meters) off the ground, you can hit punches and spin your way at will [source: Robinson ]. Just, you know, try not to turn into someone else.
A headphone cord can even help you in a lightning strike because it can divert the current away from your heart [source: Robinson ]. You’ll still take some major burns, though, so don’t let this minor advantage deter you from seeking cover during a thunderstorm.
Thunderstorm Warning: Safety Tips To Get Through This Event
Daniela Solares walks past the camera as lightning strikes Copacabana Beach during the Carnival festival in Brazil; he might want to take that flash a little more seriously.
No, the 30/30 rule is not when you wait half an hour after eating to swim. It also doesn’t refer to the idea that anything you drop on the ground is still safe to eat as long as you pick it up within 30 seconds. However, the “rule” is similar because it’s one of those pieces of advice that sounds good and is easier to pass off as accurate than to investigate whether it actually is.
As a rule of thumb, you should start counting when you see lightning. If you hear thunder in less than 30 seconds, the lightning is close enough that you should move quickly indoors. Then wait at least 30 minutes for the storm to pass to go back outside [source: Aleccia].
Things You’ll Always Do During A Thunderstorm
These days, experts say forget about counting. These blue lightning bolts and the anvil are hard to predict. Instead, go inside – or at least find a covered structure to huddle under – at the first rumble of thunder. Waiting 30 minutes after the storm is over is still a good idea [source: Aleccia].
As far as covered structures go, a car is a perfectly reasonable and relatively safe place to seek shelter during a thunderstorm. Most vehicles, aside from the ones you might find rotting on cinder blocks on your neighbor Randy’s unkempt lawn, also sit on a set of rubber tires. But make no mistake: Tires aren’t what make a car a good shelter. The same goes for the old wives tale about rubber on the soles of your sneakers protecting you from electrocution in a thunderstorm.
The truth is, the few inches of rubber on a car’s tires — and even less on Adidas — won’t stop you from being struck by lightning. What makes a car a decent place to hide is that it is covered on all sides. So, in the event of a storm, remember to close the doors, roll up the windows and activate the sunroof. It keeps your ride dry and can save you from lighting up like a human Christmas tree. It also means motorcycles and convertibles are crappy places, even if they have rubber wheels [source: NOAA].
Why Showering During A Thunderstorm Is A Terrible Idea
While being inside is much better than being outside during a lightning strike, you still need to stay away from things that conduct electricity inside.
A house, building, or other structure with four walls and a roof is better than a vehicle to drive through a storm because of the physical protection it provides. But that doesn’t mean you’re completely safe from the light once your foot steps through the door. In fact, you should get as far away from doors as possible – and from all windows. These and other openings provide space for lightning to enter the structure [source: NOAA].
It’s also a very good idea to move away from anything inside the building that conducts electricity, such as landlines and electrical appliances. Since surge protectors do not protect against lightning, try unplugging devices such as televisions, computers, and anything else connected to the cable. Even the internal plumbing and metal frames of windows and doors are lightning conductors that can pose a safety risk during a storm. So if dark clouds and thunderstorms have forced you to cut short your run around the area, you’ll have to wait until it’s over before taking a shower [source: NOAA ].
How To Survive A Lightning Strike? Stay Out Of Its Way
Some people seem to have lightning in them. When
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