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Re: [RC] lightening.....better off out or In ? - Truman Prevattrides2far@xxxxxxxx wrote:On Fri, 22 Jul 2005 02:13:15 GMT Ridecamp GuestIn a lightening storm about the only place you are safe is in a "Faraday Cage." For those interested see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_cage Basically current flows only on the surface of a conductor. It impacts noting inside an enclosed conductor. That's why you are safe inside a car. It's not because of the rubber tires, it's because a car is a Faraday Cage. This of course assumes you don't have the window down and your hand on the outside of the car. This is why, although, many airplanes get struck by lightening the passingers are perfectly safe. One of the most interesting phenomenon of ligtening is Saint Elmo's Fire, a.k.a. ball lightening. http://www.physics.northwestern.edu/classes/2001Fall/Phyx135-2/17/whatisstelmosfire.html It is not uncommon to have a Saint Elmo's Fire dancing around the inside of an airliner when the outside collects a large charge from flying through and around heavy thunderstorms. It is perfectly safe for the passingers. Fighter pilots have them quite frequently in the cockpit. The worse place to be in a lightening storm is the highest point like on a golf course with your club at the highest elevation of the backswing. Yea ha - a perfect target for lightening. I suspect riding across an open field on a horse would produce the same results. Truman -- “You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.” Malcolm X =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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