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Are you relatively safe from lightning inside an automobile? Give two reasons.

a) Rubber tires insulate; Metal frame conducts
b) Glass windows repel; Plastic body insulates
c) Rubber tires conduct; Metal frame repels
d) Glass windows conduct; Plastic body repels

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

You are safe from lightning inside a car because its metal frame acts as a Faraday cage, and rubber tires add extra insulation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Yes, you are relatively safe from lightning inside an automobile. The primary reason is that the metal frame of the vehicle acts as a Faraday cage, which disperses the electric charge around the exterior of the car and prevents the electric field from entering the interior. This prevents occupants from being affected by the strike as long as they do not touch any metal parts of the car. Secondly, while the rubber tires do not play a significant role in insulating the vehicle from a lightning strike, they add an extra layer of insulation from the ground, although this is not the primary protective mechanism.

User Franklin Jacob
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