Why Is It Safest to Be in a Car During a Thunderstorm?

[DiEmerson]

People inside a car are not struck by lightning during rainy days due to the physics principle known as the "Faraday Cage Effect." The so-called Faraday Cage principle states that when a hollow conductor is placed in an electric field, the electrons within the conductor move under the influence of the external electric field until electrostatic equilibrium is reached. At this point, the electrons no longer move directionally, the electric field distribution remains constant over time, and no charge exists on the inner surface of the metal cavity—charge is only distributed on the outer surface of the cavity. Solutions for foggy windshield on rainy days are as follows: 1. Lower the window: Slightly open the window to reduce the temperature difference between the inside and outside of the car, and the fog inside will disappear. 2. Turn on the air conditioning: After turning on the air conditioning, use the recirculation mode and adjust the vents to blow air onto the windshield to quickly clear the fog. 3. Turn on the heater: Adjust the switch to the heating position, increase the fan speed, and also set the vents to blow air onto the windshield to raise the interior temperature and dry the air.