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Re: [RC] lightening.....better off out or In ? - Truman Prevatt

rides2far@xxxxxxxx wrote:

On Fri, 22 Jul 2005 02:13:15 GMT Ridecamp Guest
<guest-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:


Please Reply to: Beth caglehead10@xxxxxxxxx or ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Now, She brings her horses inside during bad weather, she just feels a little better do that even tho they still may be safer out . whatever makes you sleep better at night !



Well I just scanned down a zillion lightning strike listings on that site
and learned a few things:


In 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


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[RC] lightening.....better off out or In ?, rides2far