0
It does burn. Trees struck by lightning (or that strike power lines) will be scorched and often die completely as a result. In fact, "dry lightning" (with little or no accompanying precipitation) is a common natural cause of wildfire (but is generally exceeded by the number of wildfires started by human activity).
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What happens when lightning hits a tree?
It can burn up and/or fall down. It also could turn into petrefied wood, a kind of wood that is non-flammable and is as hard as a rock.
Do trees attract lightning?
Actually, all trees attract lightning. They are tall and usually filled with moisture, thus providing a good electrical conducting path for lightning. Every day, thousands of trees are hit by lightning throughout the world. Past studies of the kinds of trees struck are complicated. It depends on tree height, the variety of trees present, and soil conditions. Overall, the oak tree appears to be most vulnerable: "Beware the oak; it draws the stroke." Oaks tend to be taller than the surrounding trees, thus attracting the lightning. They also have a high moisture content, which increases their ability to conduct the surge of electricity. When a tree is hit be lightning, most of the electrical charge moves through the outer, growing portion of the tree. This intense current can instantly vaporize sap into steam. As a result, the tree may violently split or even explode. About half of all trees struck by lightning survive for the moment. However, they are often weakened and made susceptible to future disease. A target tree is better off if struck after it has been thoroughly soaked by rain. Much of the electrical charge is then able to move safely down the outside surface moisture instead of through the internal tree. Source: http://www.christiananswers.net/kids/lightningtrees.html
What if lightning struck down and you had a lightning rod on top of your house?
It may strike the lightning rod. A properly installed lightning rod will prevent a lightning strike from setting your house on fire, at least for the most part. The energy of the bolt is carried by the rod and the ground wire. This system "contains" the electric current by offering it a low resistance path to ground. If lightning strikes a tree, a power pole, or a house, it travels through the tree, pole or house. This high current can super heat that wood or other materials and cause them to explode or burst into flames. Damage will result, and very possibly a fire. The lightning rod minimizes the chances of extensive damage and fire in the event of a strike on a house.
Wood is to tree as rain is to?
Cloud! or water
What type of wood grows on a evergreen tree?
The evergreen trees wood used in many ways. For example Cedrus deodara is an ever green tree. Its wood is resistant to termites and gives very good flooring material. It is exellent wood for building pans and furniture.
What happens when lightning hits a tree?
It can burn up and/or fall down. It also could turn into petrefied wood, a kind of wood that is non-flammable and is as hard as a rock.
What is a thunder wood tree?
To native Americans thunder wood is the wood from a tree that has been struck by lightning.
Why do green trees burn when hit by lightning?
because lightning attracts to wood
What types of wood burn the fastest?
Less dense wood will burn fastest, such as balsa wood. In general, the faster a tree grows, the less dense the wood from that tree will be.
Why won't wood from a tree hit by lightning burn in a wood heater?
This should not be the case. It sounds like an urban legend. Wood (cellulose) is a flammable hydrocarbon and an electrical insulator due to its closed dry plant cells. There would be no change to the chemical structure of the wood from electricity that flowed through the conductive phloem and xylem cells. The lightning itself could easily burn a tree due to the immense heat of the electric arc generated. Then, of course, it could not be burned again.
Why can lightning and fire damage the bristlecone tree?
The birstlecone pine is made of wood just like any other tree. Wood is flammable and can burn. All trees contain water. A lighting strike can sometimes flash boil the water inside a tree , causing it to explode.
Is it safe to burn wood from a lilac tree?
no no no
Can you burn wood from a Catalpa tree in a wood stove?
Yes: it is a relatively soft wood, so it may burn hot and fast.
Can you burn camphor tree wood?
i my self am trying to find out
What species of tree has the wood with the highest temperature to burn of all wood?
For New Zealand, it is the native Tree "Miro", followed closely by "Rata".
Is wood from the catalpa tree okay to burn as firewood?
yes but it will burn faster than most wood and make sure its about 6 months old
What did cave men use to burn their fires?
They wait for lightning to struck something combustive like wood
