Understanding Lightning and Thunder Safety

The video discusses the threats posed by severe summer weather, focusing on lightning. It explains the formation of lightning in cumulonimbus clouds and highlights its dangers, noting that it has caused more fatalities than tornadoes and hurricanes. The video provides safety tips for avoiding lightning strikes and features educational demonstrations at the Boston Museum of Science, illustrating the physics of lightning using a Van de Graaff generator.

What is the primary focus of severe weather threats during the summer months?

• Winter storms

• Lightning and thunderstorms

• Tornadoes

• Earthquakes

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, how many people have been killed by lightning in the US since records began?

• Around 7,500

• Exactly 10,000

• Less than 5,000

• Over 9,200

What is the temperature of a lightning bolt compared to the surface of the Sun?

• Half as hot

• Same temperature

• Five times hotter

• Twice as hot

What type of cloud is responsible for the formation of lightning?

• Nimbostratus

• Stratus

• Cirrus

• Cumulonimbus

What device is used at the Boston Museum of Science to demonstrate the physics of lightning?

• Van de Graaff generator

• Lightning Rod

• Faraday Cage

• Tesla Coil

What is the primary function of a Van de Graaff generator in the context of lightning?

• To simulate the charge separation in clouds

• To predict weather patterns

• To create wind

• To measure temperature

What should you do when you hear thunder while outside?

• Continue your activities

• Stand under a tree

• Seek shelter indoors

• Stay in open fields

How long should you wait after the last sound of thunder before going outside again?

• 30 minutes

• 5 minutes

• 20 minutes

• 10 minutes

What is a simple method to determine if a storm is approaching or moving away?

• Observe the cloud movement

• Count the seconds between lightning and thunder

• Check the wind direction

• Measure the temperature drop

Why are cars considered somewhat safe during a lightning storm?

• They are insulated

• They are made of rubber

• They have a metal frame that directs the charge

• They are grounded