[Phys-L] Re: Lightning and indoor pools

[John Clement <clement@HAL-PC.ORG>]

I would not think that a pool would "attract" lightning as the downward
current tends toward high objects, and the upward current also tends to flow
from high objects.  By current I am referring to the actual movement of the
particles whether + or -, and am not using conventional current.  After all
the charge tends to accumulate on a high object.  The real hazard of a pool
would probably be the swimmers who are sticking up above the surface and
acting as lightning rods, or the fact that it can conduct ground current to
flow through a swimmers whole body.  The ideal killing lightning strike
would be to a stupid golfer standing on a rise with a metal stick raised
into the air.

Indoor pools are actually insulated from the ground by insulating dry
concrete.  If the building has a lightning rod, they would probably be
fairly safe, but not as safe as being out of them.  I have no statistics to
back up these ideas.

John M. Clement
Houston, TX

> The pool is a huge low resistance electrical sink that will "attract"
> lighting, but indoors I wonder also.  I wonder, is it very uncommon for
> lighting to strike a dry area * ?  The bldg. didn't have a lighting rod
> or grounded antennas, etc.?
>
>
> * A dirty wet building would afford similarly to the protection an auto.
> gives?
>
> bc
>
> Robert Cohen wrote:
>
> > Some time ago, there was a discussion on this list about the danger of
> > taking a shower or bath during a lightning storm.  I don't think any
> > evidence was provided that anyone has actually died or been harmed while
> > taking a shower or bath and so I am still wondering about this.
> >
> > In any event, what reminded me of this discussion is that yesterday we
> > had a line of storms move through the area.  At the time, my son was in
> > a swimming program for boy scouts at our campus pool (indoor).  At the
> > first sound of thunder, everyone was ordered out of the pool.  The boy
> > scouts, still somewhat wet, then moved to a dry area near the pool side
> > where they worked on CPR.
> >
> > My question is: were they any safer at their new location?  Is the
> > problem electrocution or is it drowning?
> >
> > ____________________________________________________
> > Robert Cohen; 570-422-3428; www.esu.edu/~bbq
> > East Stroudsburg University; E. Stroudsburg, PA 18301
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