• Question: when lightning strikes the sea why don't all the fish die ?

    Asked by ellie science to Deborah, Euan, Maheen, Rob, Stu on 21 Jun 2016.
    • Photo: Rob Stanley

      Rob Stanley answered on 21 Jun 2016:

      I’ve found a relevant article on the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-28521789

      Because water is conductive (unlike air), the electricity spreads out, so that far away not enough energy is concentrated in one point to kill a fish. (A fish right next to the lightning strike would still dies though.)

    • Photo: Deborah Prunty

      Deborah Prunty answered on 21 Jun 2016:

      If fish are near the surface they do die. Salt water is a really good conductor and spreads the charge out quickly. This means that any fish that are lower down aren’t badly affected.

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