Sparky's Life
Sparky's Life
EP 21 Lightning Safety Tips & Electrifying Discoveries
Understanding lightning strikes is crucial for safety during storms. We discuss lightning's behaviour, electrical hazards, and ways to protect yourself, along with fascinating statistics and a dose of motivation.
• Discussing the nature and dangers of lightning strikes
• Importance of avoiding trees during storms
• Lightning statistics from the University of Western Australia
• Safety tips for vehicles during electrical emergencies
• Encouragement to try new things inspired by a motivational quote
• Call for listener engagement and feedback
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Hello everyone, welcome to Sparky's Life. I'm your host, grant Dilko. Today on the show we'll be talking about lightning strikes and I will include some interesting facts. Also, I have the quote of the week and some nice royalty free music to end off the show. So let's get the show started. Let's talk about lightning.
Speaker 1:When the lightning is travelling through the air, it is always trying to find a path to ground, like an earthing system in an electrical circuit. So when people and animals are out and about in a lightning storm, the lightning bolt could very well use you or an animal as a source to get to ground. If you find yourself in a lightning storm, try and keep low to the ground as possible without lying on the ground, so as the lightning doesn't jump onto you to find ground. You hear about people being struck by lightning while taking shelter under a tree to avoid the rain and lightning. How can this happen? It depends on the bark of the tree that you're seeking shelter from, the rain and thunder. If the bark on the tree is smooth, this will allow the rainwater to flow down outside the tree trunk and onto the ground. So if the tree is struck by lightning, the energy from the strike will flow down the water source on the outside of the trunk of the tree and find the ground. But if the tree bark is very coarse and rough, there will be dry patches and the water may not reach the base of the tree. So if that tree is struck by lightning, the energy will jump onto you or other animals to find ground. Also, avoid touching or holding metal objects, like metal sheds or metal handrails, and definitely don't go swimming or stand in puddles of water. Salt water is very conductive, so if you're in the ocean swimming and there's a strike on the water, it could be like placing a toaster or a hairdryer in the water while it is switched on and working off a working power point.
Speaker 1:Another interesting fact is when the lightning hits the ground. Another interesting fact is when the lightning hits the ground, the energy radiates away from the strike in a circular belt wave pattern. The further away from the strike, the voltage decreases. There have been countless times when farmland has been struck by lightning with the paddock, with livestock such as cows. Because there is some length difference between the cow's front hoofs and back hoofs, this creates a voltage potential difference.
Speaker 1:In a lightning strike. The front hooves add a different voltage that is different to the back hooves or vice versa, creating a step voltage or potential difference in voltages, causing the electrical current to flow through the enamel. The same principle can apply to a power line hitting the deck or lying over a car in an accident when the car hits a power pole. In this situation, the driver of the car or farm machine or equipment must stay within the vehicle at all times as the power line could still be live. It doesn't jump around and spark like it does in TV shows or movies. It's dead silent and doesn't move. The whole ground could be live with electricity, so it's safer to stay inside your vehicle until emergency services arrive and the power distributor has turned off the power and emergency power line workers have removed the downed power line. The vehicle is insulated with rubber tyres so there's no potential contact with electricity unless you touch the outside of the metal vehicle. In an event that the vehicle catches on fire, then you must exit the vehicle without touching the metal chassis and you must keep your feet together and shuffle away or hop away like a bunny rabbit, as mentioned before about the cows. Keeping your feet together reduces the risk of the potential voltage difference between two points until you're far enough away and in a safe zone, are far enough away and in a safe zone.
Speaker 1:Hi there, I'm Grant Doolko. If this is your first time here at Sparky's Life, welcome. It's great to have you here. And if you're back here for more, welcome back and thank you for your loyalty and support. If you like what you hear on today's show, make sure you share this podcast with your mates who are electricians or who are involved in the tradie world. I want to reach out and help as many tradies as I can with this podcast. I want to help tradespeople break through to the next level in their career and in their lives.
Speaker 1:I have some interesting facts about lightning from the University of Western Australia. An estimated 2,000 thunderstorms occur globally at any one time, producing up to 100 lightning strikes per second. That's almost 10 million strikes every day. Kampala in the country Uganda is the home of the most lightning on Earth, with 280 thunderstorms per day every year. The amount of energy in an average lightning bolt is 5 billion joules. That's enough to run a 100 watt light bulb for 18 months. There are between 5 and 10 deaths from lightning strikes in Australia each year and over 100 injuries. About 80 of these injuries result from the use of landline telephones. During thunderstorms, lightning heats the surrounding air, creating super temperatures up to 30,000 degrees Celsius. The lightning hot spots in Australia are found in the far north, closest to the equatorial border.
Speaker 1:And now it's time for our regular quote of the week. This one is another quote from Michelle Obama Just try new things, don't be afraid, step out. I would like to add to that quote Soar like an Australian eagle, you're never too old to try new things, new hobbies or a new career path. You'll never know unless you do it. Just do it, just do it. Don't be left wondering. Wondering doesn't get you anywhere. So that's all for now, folks, but before I go, if there is anything you'd like me to talk about on future episodes, maybe want to ask a question or be on the show, you can do this by contacting us on any of our media sites. I'll put the links to these in the show notes. And don't forget to follow the show and leave a review. Thanks for listening to Sparky's Life. I'm your host, grant Doolko.
Speaker 2:Keep safe and catch you on the next one. I would give you the world. If you, let me try again. Yeah, just give me one more chance. I swear I'll try my best to always be there and I want you to know that I'm lost without you.
Speaker 3:I'm not without you. I hope I can show what you mean to me, Cause I don't know what to do if you go. I just don't know what to do if you go. You go, ooh.
Speaker 2:Ooh yeah, just give me one more chance. I swear I'll try my best to always be there.
Speaker 3:And I want you to know that I'm lost without you. I'm not without you. I hope I can show what you. I'm not without you. I hope I can't show what you mean to me, Cause I don't know what to do if you go. I just don't know what to do if you go.
