Lightning and safety

• Lightning has very high voltages
• It can electrocute, maim or kill a person if they are struck
• Several precautions can be taken to prevent this from happening:
• People should never stand underneath trees during a storm as lightning usually strikes the tallest objects
• Disconnect roof-top television aerials
• Construct lightning conductors (also known as lightning rods) and placing them either on roof tops or near the buildings that are to be protected
• It is safe to stand inside:
• Metal buildings
• Buildings that are protected by lightning conductors
• But it is dangerous to stand near:
• isolated trees
• metal objects
• fences
• large rocks
• hill tops
• If a thatched building is struck by lighting the electric charges will pass through the human body because it is a better conductor compared to the air and walls
• An electric conductor can be constructed using a  pole and barbed wire
• Rocks should be placed around the base of of the pole to keep animals and people away from it
• Touching the wire/pole during a storm can result in electrocution

To access more topics go to the Combined Science Notes page.