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23-06-2006, 03:28 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,449
| | | Mobilephones a risk in a storm
The Daily Mail reports that experts have warned that using mobiles increase the risk of being struck by lightning during a storm
Instead of the skins high resistance making the charge flashover the body the conductive mobile held close to the ear disrupts the flashover causing more serious injuries 
I must admit that I thought any metal or conductive material would have the same effect
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23-06-2006, 03:37 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sunny Doncaster
Posts: 4,331
| | | Re: Mobilephones a risk in a storm
You are correct.
This is absolute garbage. Electricity always seeks the path of least resistance to return to earth. Holding a mobile phone, or any other object, would not increase this unless the phone was earthed seperately and then touched by the user. A phone held in the hand is only as earthed as the person holding it
Chances are that someone sheltered under a tree whilst using a phone and got struck, and 'scientists' put 2 plus 2 together.
Its about the same risk as a cellphone blowing up a filling station. Far more likely to get sparks of your quarter taps (Blakey's) than a mobile phone.
Scaremongering |
23-06-2006, 07:30 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sheffield
Posts: 4,865
| | | Re: Mobilephones a risk in a storm
Quote: |
Originally Posted by nightshade The Daily Mail reports that experts have warned that using mobiles increase the risk of being struck by lightning during a storm
Instead of the skins high resistance making the charge flashover the body the conductive mobile held close to the ear disrupts the flashover causing more serious injuries
I must admit that I thought any metal or conductive material would have the same effect | There has been about 3 instances of this. Any metal object held would 'increase the likelihood of injury' through skin/ soft tissue damage. rare but possible and in my view not exactly garbage! |
23-06-2006, 07:51 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sunny Doncaster
Posts: 4,331
| | | Re: Mobilephones a risk in a storm
Quote: |
Originally Posted by FungiJohn There has been about 3 instances of this. Any metal object held would 'increase the likelihood of injury' through skin/ soft tissue damage. rare but possible and in my view not exactly garbage! |
There is a difference between the fact that 'using mobiles increase the risk of being struck by lightning during a storm' and an 'increase in the likelihood of injury' through skin / soft tissue damage.
A metal object would concentrate current to a localised hotspot, therefore causing damage, but there is no way a lightening bolt would seek out a person holding a mobile phone over someone that was not. It is simply not possible.
Therefore it is garbage to suggest that using mobiles increase the risk of being struck by lightning during a storm. |
23-06-2006, 08:05 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sheffield
Posts: 4,865
| | | Re: Mobilephones a risk in a storm
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Boddie There is a difference between the fact that 'using mobiles increase the risk of being struck by lightning during a storm' and an 'increase in the likelihood of injury' through skin / soft tissue damage.
A metal object would concentrate current to a localised hotspot, therefore causing damage, but there is no way a lightening bolt would seek out a person holding a mobile phone over someone that was not. It is simply not possible.
Therefore it is garbage to suggest that using mobiles increase the risk of being struck by lightning during a storm. | It seeks out the shortest path to ground and it does this using the most conductive material in its path.
In the case of the girl who was struck by lightening the point of entry was her ear via her mobile phone.
And Yes, it would increase the risk! |
23-06-2006, 08:10 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sunny Doncaster
Posts: 4,331
| | | Re: Mobilephones a risk in a storm
Quote: |
Originally Posted by FungiJohn It seeks out the shortest path to ground and it does this using the most conductive material in its path.
In the case of the girl who was struck by lightening the point of entry was her ear via her mobile phone.
And Yes, it would increase the risk! | So it would not have struck her anyway? How wide do you think a lightening bolt is?
It does not seek out the shortest route but the path of least resistance. There is a difference. |
23-06-2006, 08:18 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sheffield
Posts: 4,865
| | | Re: Mobilephones a risk in a storm
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Boddie So it would not have struck her anyway? How wide do you think a lightening bolt is?
It does not seek out the shortest route but the path of least resistance. There is a difference. | How wide do you think lightening is bodie and of what type?
Oh and you're right ... the shortest route by the least resistance.
Oh by the way is this a 5 minute argument or the full half hour 
I'm off for a drink soon and the sky looks a bit dull, I'll check it out and hopefully get back to you  |
23-06-2006, 08:25 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Exmouth Devon
Posts: 3,039
| | | Re: Mobilephones a risk in a storm
I think you would need to be tall, doesn't lightning strike the hightst point?
I'm not out for an arguement , I just have always unsterstood it strikes the highest point
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23-06-2006, 08:26 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sunny Doncaster
Posts: 4,331
| | | Re: Mobilephones a risk in a storm
Quote: |
Originally Posted by FungiJohn How wide do you think lightening is bodie and of what type?
Oh and you're right ... the shortest route by the least resistance.
Oh by the way is this a 5 minute argument or the full half hour
I'm off for a drink soon and the sky looks a bit dull, I'll check it out and hopefully get back to you | Its not the shortest route. The length of the route has nothing to do with it. It is relative to resistance only.
This may help you understand more http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightening
Lightening can take on many forms and injury or death can be caused by many different circumstances.
What I have issue with is the claim that using a mobile increases the risk of being hit. That is just not possible. |
23-06-2006, 08:32 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sheffield
Posts: 4,865
| | | Re: Mobilephones a risk in a storm
What I have issue with is the claim that using a mobile increases the risk of being hit. That is just not possible.
last one. I repeat ... 'increase the likelihood of injury' through carrying.
Can we agree to disagree here boddie. I've got an important pool match shortly 
John |
23-06-2006, 08:32 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sunny Doncaster
Posts: 4,331
| | | Re: Mobilephones a risk in a storm
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Beryl I think you would need to be tall, doesn't lightning strike the hightst point?
I'm not out for an arguement , I just have always unsterstood it strikes the highest point | Nope this is not quite right Beryl. Its simply down to the masses conductivity.
Given the choice of two identical objects it would travel down the one with greatest conductivity.
If two people were struck, one fat and one lean and muscular, the lean and muscular person would conduct better as fat is more resistant and the electricity (or charge) would always want to take the easiest route |
23-06-2006, 08:35 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sunny Doncaster
Posts: 4,331
| | | Re: Mobilephones a risk in a storm
Quote: |
Originally Posted by FungiJohn
Can we agree to disagree here boddie. I've got an important pool match shortly
John | Sure, but only if you agree you are wrong  |
23-06-2006, 08:36 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sheffield
Posts: 4,865
| | | Re: Mobilephones a risk in a storm
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Boddie Sure, but only if you agree you are wrong | What do you think
Catch you late mate |
23-06-2006, 08:38 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sunny Doncaster
Posts: 4,331
| | | Re: Mobilephones a risk in a storm
Have a good game mate. |
23-06-2006, 08:39 PM
|  | Frozen | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.E. Lincolnshire
Posts: 4,130
| | | Re: Mobilephones a risk in a storm
Did anyone see a programme about lightning that was on a couple of years ago? ….long shot I know!
They set up special cameras that managed to record the lightning just before it struck. The film showed that a negative and positive charge, one from the ground and one from above, as they met in the middle. The initial charges were estimated to only be a few mm wide. Once they met several pulses of electricity came down the connection, which dismissed the rule that lightening doesn’t strike twice in the same spot.
Nothing much to do with mobiles I admit, but I thought it interesting!
…….shall I get my coat yet again! |
23-06-2006, 08:46 PM
|  | Member of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Essex
Posts: 449
| | | Re: Mobilephones a risk in a storm
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Alan
…….shall I get my coat yet again! |
Well I for one found it all very interesting so I reckon you should stay!
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23-06-2006, 08:47 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sunny Doncaster
Posts: 4,331
| | | Re: Mobilephones a risk in a storm
Yep the Eifel tower has been hit many times.
I used to stay at a friends house in Nevil Holt in Leicester and we used to see the most marvellous electrical storms over Corby.
I am pretty sure Lee Trevino has been hit a few times whilst playing golf |
23-06-2006, 08:48 PM
| | Frozen | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.E. Lincolnshire
Posts: 4,130
| | | Re: Mobilephones a risk in a storm
Quote: |
Originally Posted by nicole Well I for one found it all very interesting so I reckon you should stay! | Ok if you insist |
23-06-2006, 09:01 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Exmouth Devon
Posts: 3,039
| | | Re: Mobilephones a risk in a storm
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Boddie Nope this is not quite right Beryl. Its simply down to the masses conductivity.
Given the choice of two identical objects it would travel down the one with greatest conductivity.
If two people were struck, one fat and one lean and muscular, the lean and muscular person would conduct better as fat is more resistant and the electricity (or charge) would always want to take the easiest route | Oh right. Thanks for that
I'll have to remember that because i'm fat
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23-06-2006, 09:06 PM
| | Frozen | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: N.E. Lincolnshire
Posts: 4,130
| | | Re: Mobilephones a risk in a storm
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Boddie
If two people were struck, one fat and one lean and muscular, the lean and muscular person would conduct better as fat is more resistant and the electricity (or charge) would always want to take the easiest route
| OK........we need 2 volunteers...... |
23-06-2006, 09:46 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Exmouth Devon
Posts: 3,039
| | | Re: Mobilephones a risk in a storm
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Alan OK........we need 2 volunteers...... | eeerrrrrrrrrr No thank you
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24-06-2006, 02:07 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chilterns
Posts: 7,697
| | | Re: Mobilephones a risk in a storm
What I want to know is
a) how come these muppets were using their phones outside in the middle of a thunderstorm rather than running for cover like any sensible person, and
b) how did they get any signal - as mine always goes haywire when a storm is over head.
Perhaps using a mobile phone increases you chance of being hit because you are standing there like a halfwit trying to get a signal rather than taking cover
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