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Why is it safe to stay in the car when lightning strikes?

Staying inside a fully enclosed metal car is one of the safest places to be during a lightning strike. This is because the metal frame of the car acts as a Faraday cage, which protects the occupants inside from the electrical current of the lightning strike.

When lightning strikes, it seeks the easiest path to the ground. Because metal is a good conductor of electricity, the current will travel through the metal frame of the car and into the ground, bypassing the occupants inside.

In addition, the tires of the car also help to insulate the occupants from the electrical current. This is because rubber is a poor conductor of electricity, so the current will not pass through the tires and into the ground.

However, it is important to note that staying in a convertible or a car with a sunroof is not as safe as staying in a fully enclosed metal car. This is because the convertible top and the sunroof are not made of metal, so they do not provide the same level of protection from lightning.

If you are caught in a lightning storm while driving, it is important to pull over to the side of the road and stay inside the car until the storm has passed. If you must get out of the car for any reason, make sure to touch only the metal parts of the car and avoid touching the ground.