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Oh, yes. It might even kill you.
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Why does lightning strike near water?
Lightning strikes strike near water because water is a good conductor of electricity. Most lightning strikes happen by the ocean because the salt makes it an even better conductor at electricity than fresh water.
Average temperatures are lower near the poles because sunlight strikes the ground at an angle?
Yes.
When sunlight strikes the ground it warms the ground and the air near it The warm air near the ground then rises as it expands What does this process typically result in on the ground?
Cool air rushes in to replace the rising warm air.
Why tall buildings have lightning conductors?
Lightning conductors are not put up to get hit by lightning as such. They can and do get hit by lightning but the expression "conductor" is a misnomer. They act as a discharge to ground to prevent the buildup of static charge in an approximate "sphere" from the tip of the rod to the surrounding ground. Any lightning strike will tend to go across the surface of this sphere and provide protection for the people under the sphere. Thus standing near the tall building usually gives complete protection. The taller the building the better and wider is the protection
Can lightning hit a ceiling fan?
> No lightning can hit a building affecting the lighting that comes from the fan > or can short circuit the house but not directly hit a ceiling fan. > Answered by SMCherry originally. I disagree with SMCherry on this. I do agree that it is highly unlikely a direct strike on a ceiling fan will occur though it is not impossible. Any electrical circuit connected to earth ground could be the target of a strike. I do agree with SMCHerry that generally appliances in homes are damaged by the massive electrical surge caused when a lightning strike hits a near by a home such as an external power line, not by a direct hit to the appliance itself. It was originally thought that even electrical supply lines buried deep in the ground were immune from lightning strikes. The theory was that the earth would dissipate the energy before contacting the power lines and therefore not effect the buried power lines. Testing has proven this theory to be incorrect. Power lines buried in the ground and even encased in conduit (metal pipes used to protect the wiring) have been obliterated by the massive energy released by lightning. Lightning does take the quickest easiest path to ground and a strike on a home near a ceiling fan is most likely to find alternate paths to ground first prior to coming into contact with the fan. However lightning can generate gigawatts of energy - for the non technical out there that's one hell-a-va lot of power and strikes seldom take a single path to ground. Simply watch any video of lightning strikes and you will see many strikes/paths in one discharge. See the related link for an example.
How many times does lightning strike Wisconsin in a year?
For 2008 NOAA reports that there were 296,499 "Cloud to Ground" strikes in Wisconsin, which is very near the average number of strikes reported from 1996-2008 of 302,5321 strikes per year. From 1992-1995 the National Lightning Detection Network lists that there were almost 22 million strikes in the United States per year. Additionally, for the period 2000-2009 there were 7 deaths caused by lightning strikes in Wisconsin. For the reporting period from 1959 to 1994 there were 194 injuries from lightning strikes reported.
Why does lightning strike near water?
Lightning strikes strike near water because water is a good conductor of electricity. Most lightning strikes happen by the ocean because the salt makes it an even better conductor at electricity than fresh water.
When lightning strikes the the sea why don't all the fish die?
Before a lightning strike, a charge builds up along the water's surface. When lightning strikes, most of electrical charge occurs near the water's surface. Most fish swim below the surface and are unaffected.
When sunlight strikes the ground it warms the ground and the air near it. The warm air near the ground then rises as it expands. What does this process typically result in on the ground?
Cool air rushes in to replace the rising warm air.
Average temperatures are lower near the poles because sunlight strikes the ground at an angle?
Yes.
When sunlight strikes the ground it warms the ground and the air near it The warm air near the ground then rises as it expands What does this process typically result in on the ground?
Cool air rushes in to replace the rising warm air.
Why is it dnagerous to swim in a freshwater lake during an electrical storm?
You can get electrocuted if the lightning strikes near you. Although the strike will dissipate after a short distance.
Why tall buildings have lightning conductors?
Lightning conductors are not put up to get hit by lightning as such. They can and do get hit by lightning but the expression "conductor" is a misnomer. They act as a discharge to ground to prevent the buildup of static charge in an approximate "sphere" from the tip of the rod to the surrounding ground. Any lightning strike will tend to go across the surface of this sphere and provide protection for the people under the sphere. Thus standing near the tall building usually gives complete protection. The taller the building the better and wider is the protection
Why does lightning touch ground on the mainland but not in the pacific islands?
The water is a better ground than land, so it finds the water near the islands
Can lightning hit a ceiling fan?
> No lightning can hit a building affecting the lighting that comes from the fan > or can short circuit the house but not directly hit a ceiling fan. > Answered by SMCherry originally. I disagree with SMCherry on this. I do agree that it is highly unlikely a direct strike on a ceiling fan will occur though it is not impossible. Any electrical circuit connected to earth ground could be the target of a strike. I do agree with SMCHerry that generally appliances in homes are damaged by the massive electrical surge caused when a lightning strike hits a near by a home such as an external power line, not by a direct hit to the appliance itself. It was originally thought that even electrical supply lines buried deep in the ground were immune from lightning strikes. The theory was that the earth would dissipate the energy before contacting the power lines and therefore not effect the buried power lines. Testing has proven this theory to be incorrect. Power lines buried in the ground and even encased in conduit (metal pipes used to protect the wiring) have been obliterated by the massive energy released by lightning. Lightning does take the quickest easiest path to ground and a strike on a home near a ceiling fan is most likely to find alternate paths to ground first prior to coming into contact with the fan. However lightning can generate gigawatts of energy - for the non technical out there that's one hell-a-va lot of power and strikes seldom take a single path to ground. Simply watch any video of lightning strikes and you will see many strikes/paths in one discharge. See the related link for an example.
Why do you shelter under a tree during a thunderstorm?
Sheltering under a tree during a thunderstorm is not safe because trees are a prominent target for lightning strikes. Lightning tends to strike taller objects, and trees can conduct the electricity from a lightning strike to the ground, putting anyone near them at risk of electrocution. It is safer to find shelter in a sturdy building or a fully enclosed vehicle during a thunderstorm.
Does lightning go up?
Lightning can strike upwards, from the ground to the sky, and it can also strike downwards, from one cloud to another, or from one part of a cloud to another part. (see: http://www.answers.com/topic/lightning)
