Question

Which of the following is the best thing to do during heavy lightning.
a. Lying on the ground in an open place
b. Going into the nearest water body
c. Staying indoor, away from metallic doors or windows.
d. Standing under a tall tree.

Answer 1

Electricity flows through the path in which it faces least resistance.

Complete Step by Step solution:
Whenever heavy lightning occurs it flows toward the earth because earth is considered a capacitor having infinite capacitance or we can also state that potential of earth is taken zero because it is considered that earth is a storehouse of infinite negative charge that’s why all the charge from lightning comes toward earth. Therefore option $\left( A \right)$ is not suitable to escape from lightning.
Option (B) is also not correct because water is a conductor of electricity so when charge comes down to earth it can through the water body. So standing near a water body is not safe.
Option (C) is correct. Metallic bodies are conductor for charge so if we will make ourselves distant from those we will be safe and nowadays all the houses are built with lightning protection systems. A metallic rod from the roof of home goes down to the ground. Thus when charge comes, it passes through the rod and goes inside ground and our home becomes safe. Therefore staying indoor is the best way to stay safe from lightning.
Option (D) is also incorrect because a living tree is having water molecules so again it can conduct charge. Thus lightning may destroy the tree and it will not be safe to stand under the tree.

Note: If we are in a car then also we should stay inside because a closed or acts like a hollow metallic sphere and electric field inside the hollow conducting sphere is zero. All the charge remains at the surface. Thus we are safe inside a closed car.