5 Dollar Fishing Game Posted September 21, 2014 Posted September 21, 2014 Saw from the boathouse a lightning bolt hit the lake. Does it kill fish within a certain depth from the top? Quote
TBO Posted September 21, 2014 Posted September 21, 2014 shouldnt they arent grounded to anything Quote
Super User Scott F Posted September 21, 2014 Super User Posted September 21, 2014 Electrical currents like to flow over surfaces, so most of the current from the lightning flows over the surface of the water. Since fish usually swim below the surface they should be fairly safe from the effects of lightning. Quote
5 Dollar Fishing Game Posted September 21, 2014 Author Posted September 21, 2014 Wow. Never knew that. Makes sense though about the grounding issue and also about resurface too. So when they "shock" fish to the surface I guess the probe goes deep enough in theater for them to get struck. Quote
Tony L. Posted September 22, 2014 Posted September 22, 2014 I imagine that if a fish were touching up against a piece of cover that both comes up from the lake bottom and also breaks the surface of the water, it could easily be deadly if lighting strikes there. Cool question! Quote
Super User F14A-B Posted September 22, 2014 Super User Posted September 22, 2014 Yummy, fried fish... Quote
Super User Long Mike Posted September 22, 2014 Super User Posted September 22, 2014 Electrical currents like to flow over surfaces, so most of the current from the lightning flows over the surface of the water. Since fish usually swim below the surface they should be fairly safe from the effects of lightning. So, in that vein, does that mean that wire gauge is chosen because of its surface area? Secondly, if a surfactant was added to the water to eliminate the surface tension, would the same rule apply? Third, salt water is an excellent conductor of electricity, while fresh water isn't, yet all the fish in the seas survive, despite billions of lightning strikes. Which leads me to the conclusion that anything below the surface of the water, regardless of surface tension, is at ground potential, and is completely safe. Rebuttals would be welcome. Quote
peachhead Posted September 23, 2014 Posted September 23, 2014 I believe stranded copper is used at times to provide more surface area. It is mostly used because it is easier to work with. Only the electrons in AC currents travel on the outside of the conductor and lightnin is DC. The current will flow through whatever path/paths proved the least resistant path to ground. Very interesting question though. Quote
kikstand454 Posted September 23, 2014 Posted September 23, 2014 Electricity travels ON a wire, not IN it. Electricity will travel to ALL points to ground- not just the one of least resistance. This is a great question! Someone research it and post your findings! Quote
PersicoTrotaVA Posted September 24, 2014 Posted September 24, 2014 https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070618195420AAF0OOe This guys seems to know what he is talking about. Quote
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