Thursday 24th April 2003

Lightning Risk

Mercedes Benz think of everything...

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[nickw]

I'm no physicist here but.... doesnt having rubber tyres make all that unnecessary?

[thrust]

Nope - lightning will easily arc the gap between the wheel hubs and the road.

[jmorgan]

If you are in an ordinary tin top car, the faraday cage effect protects you. Or am I barking up the wrong thunder bolt?

[Dr Chuff]

Yes, a tin top will act like a Faraday cage, but a convertible won't, since it's not fully enclosed by conductors.
The problem then is that the occupant's head (and body) becomes a preferred route for the charge.

It looks like Mercedes design is however more accidental - I think the longitudinal struts and cross members are for mechanical loads rather than electrical ones.

Nice to have though.

Dr C

[funkihamsta]

Aren't the tyres of cars actually quite conductive due to high carbon content.

(feel free to laugh at my child like innocence here!)

[gnomesmith]

Dr Chuff said: Yes, a tin top will act like a Faraday cage, but a convertible won't, since it's not fully enclosed by conductors.

Unlike the way buses used to be?