Greg Foot investigates whether a human being can survive when struck by lightning.
He uses a Tesla coil to produce very high voltages of static electricity that simulate lightning strikes. He starts by using an electric fence to show how completing an electric circuit allows the current to flow.
He then explains that water containing minerals makes a good conductor of electricity and the human body contains about 73% water and this makes our bodies a good conductor. This is important because we need small amounts of electricity for our muscles to work.
He explains that lightning can stop muscles, like our heart muscle, from working. Greg then demonstrates how anything containing water makes a good conductor and demonstrates how a Faraday cage works by conducting the lightning away to earth.
He completes the demonstration by showing that the safest place in a storm is inside a metal car.
Teacher Notes
This short film could be used when discussing electric circuits, current and voltage. It would also be good for the study of electrical conductors and insulators and how they work.
Students could use a Van der Graaff generator to investigate the effects of current with a high voltage on the human body.
This would also be useful when learning about famous scientists and their work such as Benjamin Franklin flying a kite in a lightning storm, Michael Faraday and the Faraday-cage and Robert Van der Graaff.
Curriculum Notes
These short films will be relevant for teaching physics at both KS3 and KS4 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and National 4/5 in Scotland.
More from the Secrets of Everything:
Can you make a star on Earth? video
Greg Foot demonstrates that a star is just like a continuous chemical reaction.
How big is one giant leap on the Moon? video
Greg Foot finds out how high he can jump on Earth compared to on the surface of the Moon.
If the whole world jumped at the same time would the planet move? video
Greg Foot investigates the question on everyone's lips; what if everyone in the world jumped at the same time?
Could I survive an asteroid strike? video
Greg Foot investigates what would happen if an asteroid collided with Earth.
Why is the sky blue? video
Greg Foot discovers why the sky is blue by examining the effect of the atmosphere.
Why can't I run fast? video
Will humans be able to run faster and continue to break world records?
Why do boomerangs come back? video
Why a boomerang will always return to its thrower when thrown correctly.
Why is fire hot? video
Greg Foot demonstrates how fuel, heat and oxygen are required to produce fire.
Can I escape from quicksand? video
Why quick sand is dangerous and the forces involved that make it difficult to escape from.
