Why is it that it’s safe to sit inside the car during a thunderstorm?

Question

Why is it that it’s safe to sit inside the car during a thunderstorm?

In: 1

Answer 1

Lightning is electricity flowing between the ground below you and the sky above you. To do this it must overcome the air that’s in the way and split the molecules apart.

However, in a metal car, the electrons move freely. No molecules need to be split apart, so the lightning moves through it easily and travels unimpeded towards where it ‘wants’ to go.

Since the metal is easy to pass through but air is very difficult, the electricity will follow the metal for as much of its path as possible. If the metal gives it an easy path around your body, it’ll take that path.