Imagine you’re caught in an open field during a lightning storm. What would you do to stay safe? Would you wear a thick wetsuit, a superhero costume, a medieval coat of armor, or nothing at all? Surprisingly, the best choice is the medieval coat of armor. It might sound strange, but here’s why it works.
Lightning is more likely to strike metal than rubber, fabric, or bare skin. This is because lightning is made up of fast-moving electrons that are looking for the easiest path to travel. Metal provides this easy path, making it more attractive to lightning than other materials.
So, how does wearing something that attracts lightning keep you safe? The answer lies in the fact that metal is a great conductor of electricity. This means that electricity can move easily over the surface of metal without going inside. If lightning strikes a hollow metal object, like a can or a piece of armor, the electricity stays on the outside. This is called a Faraday cage. Utility workers sometimes wear special clothing called a Faraday suit for this reason.
Your car is another example of a Faraday cage. Many people think that rubber tires protect them from lightning, but it’s actually the metal body of the car that keeps you safe. The metal directs the lightning around you instead of through you.
If you’re stuck in an open field during a storm and don’t have a car or armor, you need to be careful. Your body is a better conductor of electricity than air or soil, which means lightning might use you as a path. Standing up makes you a target for lightning, while lying down can make you a path for electricity traveling along the ground.
The best thing to do is crouch low and keep your feet close together. This reduces your height and the chance of electricity traveling through your body. If lightning strikes, the current might go up one leg and down the other, avoiding vital organs like your heart.
The safest way to deal with lightning is to avoid it altogether. Whether you have armor or not, always seek shelter indoors when you see a storm coming. Staying inside is the best way to protect yourself from lightning.
Gather some materials like aluminum foil, cardboard, and a small battery-operated device. Create a simple Faraday cage by wrapping the device in aluminum foil and placing it inside a cardboard box. Test if the device still works inside the cage. This will help you understand how a Faraday cage protects objects from electrical fields.
In groups, create a short skit where you demonstrate what to do if caught in a lightning storm. Include scenarios like being in an open field, near a car, or inside a building. This activity will help you remember the safety tips discussed in the article.
Create a poster that illustrates the key points about lightning safety. Use drawings, symbols, and short descriptions to convey the message. Display your poster in the classroom to remind everyone how to stay safe during a storm.
Using a balloon and a small piece of metal, simulate how lightning is attracted to metal. Rub the balloon on your hair to create static electricity, then bring it close to the metal. Observe how the metal reacts, and discuss why metal is a good conductor of electricity.
Choose a famous lightning storm or incident and research how people stayed safe or what went wrong. Present your findings to the class, highlighting the importance of understanding and respecting the power of lightning.
If you find yourself in an open field during a lightning storm, which of the following options would be most likely to keep you safe? A thick wetsuit, a superhero costume, a medieval coat of armor, or no clothing at all? If you chose “medieval coat of armor,” you might seem a bit unconventional, but you’d actually be correct.
This might sound surprising, as lightning is more likely to strike metal than rubber, fabric, or bare skin. Lightning bolts are essentially streams of fast-moving electrons seeking the easiest path from one point to another, and metal provides a more accessible route than everyday materials.
So, how does a material that attracts lightning help keep you safe during a storm? Ironically, it’s due to the same property that draws lightning in the first place: metal is an excellent conductor of electricity. Electrons can move easily over metals, which means they don’t penetrate deeply into the surface. If an electrical current flows over a hollow metal object, such as a can or a piece of armor, the current won’t reach the inside. This type of protective structure is known as a Faraday cage. In the case of specialized clothing worn by utility workers, it’s referred to as a Faraday suit.
Your car is a common example of a Faraday cage. Despite the common belief that rubber tires protect you, it’s actually the metal body of the car that provides safety by directing lightning around you rather than through you.
However, if you find yourself away from your car in an open field during a storm, it’s unlikely you’ll have a medieval coat of armor or a specialized suit available. In that situation, whether clothed or not, your body is a better conductor of electricity than air or soil, making you a potential path for lightning. Standing upright makes you the quickest route for a descending bolt, while lying down can make you a pathway for current traveling along the ground from a nearby strike.
The best course of action is to crouch low and keep your feet close together. Crouching minimizes your height, and having your feet together reduces the likelihood of current traveling through your body. If lightning does strike, the current is more likely to travel up one leg and down the other, potentially avoiding vital organs like your heart.
Ultimately, the safest option is to avoid lightning altogether—armor or no armor—and seek shelter indoors when you see a storm approaching.
Lightning – A natural electrical discharge of very short duration and high voltage between a cloud and the ground or within a cloud. – During the thunderstorm, we saw a bright flash of lightning in the sky.
Metal – A solid material that is typically hard, shiny, and has good electrical and thermal conductivity. – Copper is a metal often used in electrical wires because it conducts electricity well.
Electricity – A form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles such as electrons or protons. – We use electricity to power our homes and electronic devices.
Conductor – A material or object that allows electricity or heat to flow through it easily. – Metals like silver and copper are excellent conductors of electricity.
Storm – A violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow. – The storm caused power outages in several neighborhoods due to the strong winds and lightning.
Armor – A protective covering that is used to prevent damage from being inflicted by an object or force. – The spacecraft was equipped with special armor to protect it from the intense heat of re-entry.
Faraday – Referring to Michael Faraday, a scientist known for his discoveries in electromagnetism and electrochemistry. – The Faraday cage is a structure that blocks external electric fields, keeping the equipment inside safe from lightning strikes.
Safe – Protected from or not exposed to danger or risk. – It is important to stay indoors during a thunderstorm to remain safe from lightning.
Current – A flow of electric charge carried by moving electrons in a wire. – The electric current in the circuit was strong enough to power the light bulb.
Shelter – A place giving temporary protection from bad weather or danger. – We took shelter in the basement during the severe thunderstorm to stay safe from the lightning.
