can you get struck by lightning while parachuting?
341675
There is no reason why you could not be struck by lightning while parachuting but the likelihood of it happening is extremely slim.  As for not "touching the ground", I have personally been in an aircraft as a passenger that was struck by lightning while in flight.  If an aircraft can be hit in flight (ie not touching the ground) then logically, you could be struck.  But, what are the chances that you would be parachuting in weather bad enough to create lightning?
544600
I had a close encounter many years ago, when I was a boy scout and having field camp in school. It happen to be a thunderstorm and I was walking in an open field with an unbrella when I felt my hairs standing on end. Next thing I knew, lightning struck a metal fence some 15 feet away. I was shocked by this, but felt nothing and continued my way to the nearest shelter!\nSo the next time I feel a build up of static electricity around me, I am going to run into the nearest building I can find. Especially on a rainy day.
575951
But it does! Surfers foolish enough to go out during storms are struck by lightning every year! (see links)\n\n1 in 17,400 people died by lightning strike, ! Much better odds than the lottery!\n\n2,000 people were struck on the coast of Florida last year.
349740
Yes the electricity sparks can cause an explosion. I read about that a long time ago.
621977
Only if you're paranoid. There's more chance of being struck by lightning than getting a virus on a mac.
335281
depending on the charges involved lightning can either strike from the ground to the clouds, or the clouds to the ground, or from cloud to cloud. What you were almost struck by would have been ground to cloud lightning. Not sure which is most common (likely cloud to cloud) but all three of these can occur.
409594
Lightning can and does strike houses, but seldom with any injuries or fatalities. Stay away from electric appliances, electrical outlets, exposed plumbing, and don't talk on the phone unless its cordless. Never take a bath or a shower during a thunder and lightning storm. Avoid windows, and unplug the power cords to your computer, including the telephone cable going into your modem.
1140623
maybe someone got shot right outside your window while it was raining.. perfect cover\n\nNo, really the different sounds are created by different frequencies and wavelentghs of the vibrations caused by the electricity splitting the air. This can vary from the sonic boom you hear when a F15 crosses Mach 1 .. to the crack noise you hear with a whip. As for the loudness, it is a function of intensity and proximity.. so yea the same lightning will be louder when its closer.. but it could also be a very strong lightning far away.. the way you could tell would be the difference in light and sound... \n\ni hope this helps
368105
There are four ways a person can get injured from lightning: a direct strike, "splashes" (when the lightning bounces off something and strikes you), ground strikes (when lightning strikes the ground and then you conduct the electricity), and EMP waves (i don't know what this is). You have a 1 in 3000 chance of being hurt by lightning, and a surge protector lowers that odds even more. So according to the fact that chances are pretty low, I'd say it's safe to stay on the computer.
653201
Although it may be plausible to arrest (and use) lightning, it is an awesome force, unpredictable and lethal too.  There are often several strikes in quick succession following the initial ionized path.  See the link for other statistics.  Lightning also seeks the easiest path to ground and may be difficult to direct and evenly divide.  The voltage surge must be divided and reduced to never exceed the maximum allowed voltage of the capacitors to prevent damage.  Splitting the cable will likely divide the available current, but not the available voltage which may be millions of volts between your target and ground.  You can plug two devices into a wall outlet and several more devices on the same circuit within a room (that 'split' the wire) and all will 'see' the same voltage (unless you exceed rated current and blow a fuse).  Capacitors are often thin layers of foil wrapped with insulating paper between the foils (not much of a gap to arc across).  Good luck!
1153036
Yes you can.  You can also be electrocuted if you are washing dishes during a thunderstorm and your house is hit by lightning.
1174036
Lightning and thunder actually occured the same time. Only light travels faster than sound, so we see lightning before hear thunder.\n\nLightning is actually negative charges (electron) which jump to positive charges. How this charges formed?, Well, simply by the cloud moving in the sky.\n\nCloud 'rub' against air particle and positive and negative charges formed. Negative charges tend to appear at the botom or cloud while positive charges tend to appear at the top.\n\nWhen two clouds collide, the negative charges 'jump' to the positive charges (massively). This produces light and sound,, like normal spark, (only its a giant spark in the sky),\n\nSometimes lightning is dangerous becoz some positie charges 'dropped' to the ground, and the eloctron jumps to the ground, (a human standing there will be Bad Luck)
203723
Yes,...or if it hits a tree it can split it down the middle, and should you be in it's path it will kill you more often than not; though, I have read that a few people have been hit more than once and survived; however, their clothing, shoes, etc. were burned.  For the people fortunate enough to have survived a lightening strike,... seems it just wasn't there time to die,...pass on,..meet their maker,...!  Lightening is facinating to watch, but do so from a safe place.  Inside a car is safe because, as you stated, the "rubber" tires provide insulation.\nVery powerful, this thing called lightening!
575715
See source below: \nAbout 20% of people struck by lightning are killed by it. Of the 80% survivors, about 70% percent experience residual effects, most commonly affecting the brain (neuropsychiatric, vision and hearing). These effects can develop slowly, only becoming apparent much later\n\n"Lightning injuries are varied and take many different forms. The most dangerous (and possibly fatal) immediate complications are cardiovascular and neurologic. It must be kept in mind that only immediate and effective cardiorespiratory resuscitation (started by rescuers), followed as soon as possible by emergency medical treatment, can save victims who are in cardiopulmonary arrest, or avert the serious consequences of cerebral hypoxia. Some victims remain in a coma despite intensive resuscitation and die of secondary causes including hemorrhages and multiple lesions (encephalic, cardiac, pulmonary, intra-abdominal)."
470416
The only reason the empire state building is struck so many times, is because it is taller than everything else and due to the fact of it having a very thin point, a large amount of positive atoms congregate at this point and since the lightning is negatively charged atoms its is attracted to this point.  If you talking about it hitting the ground on the same spot then it is possible i think, i am not to sure but it is highly unlikely though.
299949
If you are in a boat on a lake during a lightning storm and the lightning hits you or your boat - no matter what it's made of - you will most likely die.\n\nDo not go in a boat on a lake during a lightning storm.
1165731
That depends on the intensity of the lightning. Due to jolt of thunder, by the reflex action, your eyes are automatically closed and protected. Even if you are in your car, a lightning hit your car, it will conduct the ligtning to the earth without affecting you and your eye. The question is how safely you are kept to lightning. But not the question of lightning distance.