LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE

NAME: ________________________________ 

Can Lightning Strike Twice?

Some people say that lightning never strikes - but Roy Sullivan. Roy, who worked as a forest ranger has been hit by lightning seven
different times! Now, when there is a thunderstorm that could have lightning Roy goes into one room while his family sits in another for
their own protection. However, don't be too worried. Less than 150 people are hit by lightning in North America each year with more
than half of these people surviving. Your chances of being struck will be even smaller if you take these simple precautions: 

1.Avoid playing sports during a thunderstorm or when a storm is approaching. 

A person standing in an open field is a perfect target because lightning will often take the easiest path from the clods to the ground.
It is easier for the static electricity to go through a person than for it to take the long way around through the air. Holding a large
piece of metal (like a golf club or aluminum baseball bat) in your hand will make it even easier for the electricity to channel through
you during a lightning strike. For this reason, golfing is the most dangerous sport followed by baseball, football and sailing. 
2.Never hide under a tall tree to get out of the rain during a thunderstorm. 

The lightning first hits the top of the tree, travels down the tree trunk and then through the people standing under it. 
3.Do Not swim during thunderstorm. It is not very smart to swim during thunderstorms since any lightning that hits the water will be conducted right to you.
This is the reason that lifeguards will kick everyone out of the pool if dark thunderclouds approach an outdoor pool. 

What is Lightning? 

Lightning is static electricity caused by nature. It travels over 100 000 kilometres per second and heats the air around it to 30 000degrees Celsius. (Superheating
the air is what causes thunder). Lightning usually goes from cloud to ground but can also move from ground to cloud and from cloud to cloud. (Cloud to cloud
lightning will often look like sheets of lightning, making the whole light up). The lightning can be hundreds of millions of volts but lasts for such a short time that it
could only keep a toaster going for a few hours. 


How Does Lightning Work? 

Lightning is made when hot, moist air rises. The moisture in the air turns into rising ice crystals which rub against falling hailstones high in the cloud. The hail steals
electrons from the ice crystals, which causes the bottom of the cloud to have a large negative charge. When this buildup of electrons is large enough, the electrons
will jump from the cloud to the positive ground below, creating a bolt of lightning. 


When Will Lightning Occur? 

Lightning needs hot, moist air. For this reason, most lightning storms happen on hot summer days during late afternoon or evening. The sun heats the land during the
day and the air above it rises as it warms up. Moisture (water) in the air is needed so that ice crystals and hail will form high up in the cold cloud. Look for tall
clouds called thunderheads on hot, humid summer and you might expect lightning. 

Question Sheet 



© Copyright 1998, Rainbow Horizons Publishing, Saskatchewan, Canada.. Copyright permission is hereby granted for educational purposes only, otherwise this resource may not be reproduced, modified for
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