eli5: How can using a mobile phone at gas stations cause fire?
In: Physics
“It can’t.”
The idea that a mobile phone could spark a fire was something that people were worried about, when mobile phones were new. It turns out that they don’t constantly throw off showers of sparks when you use them.
If you’re not paying attention to filing your car, there’s a bigger chance you won’t notice if something goes wrong unexpectedly. You should put your phone away and pay attention to what you’re doing when you fill a car with fuel.
It doesn’t. It’s the other factors such as being distracted, or being in and out the car causes static electricity. A lot of times you’re not paying attention that causing the problem.
It is unlikely to the point of being unworthy of your consideration. You wearing both wool and polyester while at the gas station is a bigger risk.
Mythbusters did a great job of addressing this [here](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5zNWpYWNJuI).
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Only a malfunctioning battery, or a static spark from pulling your phone out of your pocket, could possibly ignite gas vapours
(Which is why they recommend not getting back into your car while it’s filling)
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