Jesus statue struck by lightning

[Red Arrow]

Hey, Einstein...last I checked wood didn't attract or conduct lightning!  Metal, does.

electrical knowledge FAIL.

That's why it's recommended to find a tree in a field to be under during an electrical storm.

[BKDotCom]

That's why it's recommended to find a tree in a field to be under during an electrical storm.

D'oh!  you beat me too it.

[BKDotCom]

Hey, Einstein...last I checked wood didn't attract or conduct lightning!  Metal, does.

electrical knowledge FAIL.

Lightning is searching for ground, not a necessarily a conductor.
And usually strikes the tallest object (not necessarily the tallest conductor)
Which is why wooden homes with asphalt/wooden shingles have lightning rods... If it's going to strike the wooden structure... with any luck it'll hit the lightning rod.

[Hoss]

That's why it's recommended to find a tree in a field to be under during an electrical storm.

Wood and being a tree are two different things, Einstein, when it comes to lightning.  Lightning will find the path of least resistance (i.e., the highest point in an area..hey, trees are tall!)

So wood is NOT an conductor of electricity.  You ever use wood wires?

[Hoss]

Lightning is searching for ground, not a necessarily a conductor.
And usually strikes the tallest object (not necessarily the tallest conductor)
Which is why wooden homes with asphalt/wooden shingles have lightning rods... If it's going to strike the wooden structure... with any luck it'll hit the lightning rod.

I guess nobody read his post in context.  He's stating that it should have been made of metal instead of wood...although it was made of both, evidently (metal substructure).

Now, if he's inferring that it wouldn't have burned down had it been metal, then he'd be right..well most likely right.

But wood isn't a conductor of electricity.  Either that, or I've been taught wrong all these years.

[patric]

Lightning is searching for ground, not a necessarily a conductor.
And usually strikes the tallest object (not necessarily the tallest conductor)
Which is why wooden homes with asphalt/wooden shingles have lightning rods... If it's going to strike the wooden structure... with any luck it'll hit the lightning rod.

Its a little of both.  Damp wood at a roof's apex will send up streamers seeking an opposite charge, but not as efficiently as a lightning rod or pointy metal objects (like antennas, flashing or gutters).
Anything that helps complete the circuit, it will follow.

Corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST) installed in attics of newer homes seems to be a good conductor, but lightning will punch a hole in them and ignite escaping gas, and your new home goes up like a torch.   

Yes, lightning will strike a tree, and head to earth along it's skin (sap. bark).  If you are standing under that tree you may be a part of the path to ground.

As far as the flaming Jesus, lightning likely had a direct path to ground via a grounded metal frame, but the flash heat from the strike and the instantly superheated frame likely ignited the foam and epoxy.     

[waterboy]

Lightning comes in different flavors. Utility companies put them in two categories. Some of it is "cold" lightning and some of it is "hot". Apparently duration (amplitude?) is a key factor in why sometimes lightning will only cause a fire while other strikes cause an explosion. This could indeed have been a "cold" lightning strike which caused the structure to simmer and catch fire. A hard hot strike would have just blown it up! And also, isn't everything a conductor? Some just better than others?

*Note: I read that in a trade magazine waiting to talk to a PSO executive. For some reason it just stuck.

[Gaspar]

Terminator Jesus.... :rotfl:

"I'll be back!"

[DolfanBob]

I thought I read that it was made out of plastic foam and fiberglass with a metal frame. Where does the wood part come in ? since everyone started talking about trees and wood. Just curious.

[Hoss]

I thought I read that it was made out of plastic foam and fiberglass with a metal frame. Where does the wood part come in ? since everyone started talking about trees and wood. Just curious.

Boiled Cabbage said it...

[nathanm]

So wood is NOT an conductor of electricity.  You ever use wood wires?

Welllll, to be pedantic it is a conductor, as most things are, once the voltage is high enough. Needless to say, the voltage involved in a lightning bolt is plenty high. You have to remember that we're talking enough energy here to turn a mile of air into a plasma, thus making it conductive.

Basically, once the voltage is high enough, nearly everything is a conductor. Just about any structure clad with flammable material is likely to go up in flames if it gets struck by lightning. Unless there's a nice lightning rod connected to the metal frame and the metal frame of the structure has a good path to ground. And then only if the lightning rod actually works, which is somewhat iffy much of the time.

[heironymouspasparagus]

That thing reminded me of the "praying hands" down on south Lewis.  Kind of a "what's the point" moment.

[Breadburner]

Looks like the lord hates tacky $hit....!!!!!

[heironymouspasparagus]

Not at all...look at Tammy Baker.

And that 'woman' who is on TBN (co-founder?) - Jan Crouch.

[Conan71]

Not at all...look at Tammy Baker.

And that 'woman' who is on TBN (co-founder?) - Jan Crouch.

Tammy Bakker be taking the eternal dirt nap.  I wonder if she was buried with her make-up trowel...