Lightning protection

[Tom MacIntyre]

Hi folks...this was in a baseball newsgroup that I participate in
(rec.sport.baseball). Faraday cages have been mentioned, implying that
it could be safe. I don't know that I'd trust this against lightning
(maybe a Van de Graff generator). What do you think?

"Just wondering if sitting on a wood bench inside a metal cage (i.e.
metal on top and 4 sides) is a safe place to be during a lightning
storm. This is similar to the situation of being in a car (except for
the rubber tires!). I have seen younger kids wait out a passing storm
this way and am wondering if it IS in fact safe? What would the effect
of metal cleats be? I'd appreciate any thoughts from anybody but
especially from physics teachers/physicists. Thanks!"

Tom

 

[Robert Morein]

Hi folks...this was in a baseball newsgroup that I participate in
(rec.sport.baseball). Faraday cages have been mentioned, implying that
it could be safe. I don't know that I'd trust this against lightning
(maybe a Van de Graff generator). What do you think?

"Just wondering if sitting on a wood bench inside a metal cage (i.e.
metal on top and 4 sides) is a safe place to be during a lightning
storm. This is similar to the situation of being in a car (except for
the rubber tires!). I have seen younger kids wait out a passing storm
this way and am wondering if it IS in fact safe? What would the effect
of metal cleats be? I'd appreciate any thoughts from anybody but
especially from physics teachers/physicists. Thanks!"

Tom

It's a good place to be, but lightning is a bit unpredictable.
The cage needs to be grounded. If the ground path passes under your feet,
you could get a voltage differential across the two of them, causing severe
harm to you.

Your feet should be on a dry, elevated wood platform. If the wood gets wet
from rain coming through, there is again the possibility of a voltage
differential.

The cage would be electrically equivalent to a Faraday cage, and therefore
safe, it it was metal on six sides, joined together through low resistance,
reliable bonds.