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True or False: Motorists should not illuminate their headlights when it is raining?

User SGJ
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Motorists should use headlights in the rain to improve visibility and safety. While bright, the Moon cannot blind drivers to the point of causing accidents. Headlights may still dim upon starting the engine due to a battery's internal resistance, and trees can conduct lightning to the ground, even though wood is an insulator.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement you asked about is false. Motorists should always illuminate their headlights when it is raining, regardless of whether it is day or night. Using headlights during rain increases visibility for the driver and makes the vehicle more visible to others on the road. When it rains, oil and gasoline that have leaked onto the road surface can make the road slick and reduce traction, which affects the control of the car. A heavy rain might wash away some of the oil and improve traction, but visibility is still reduced, so using headlights remains essential. While the Moon can be very bright, it is unlikely to cause the kind of temporary blindness that can lead to traffic accidents. Also, superconductors in a car's wiring wouldn't prevent headlights from dimming when the engine starts due to the battery's internal resistance. Lastly, if it is rainy or wet outside, and a tree is struck by lightning, it can indeed conduct electricity to the ground because lightning can travel through insulators, especially when they are wet.

User Nicolas Martel
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