Lightning strikes can involve currents as high as 2.50×104 A that last for about
ID: 1544006 • Letter: L
Question
Lightning strikes can involve currents as high as 2.50×104 A that last for about 40.0 s . If a person is struck by a bolt of lightning with these properties, the current will pass through his body. We shall assume that his mass is 79.0 kg , that he is wet (after all, he is in a rainstorm) and therefore has a resistance of 1.50 k , and that his body is all water (which is reasonable for a rough, but plausible, approximation).
A) By how many degrees Celsius would this lightning bolt increase the temperature of 79.0 kg of water? answer in K
B) Given that the internal body temperature is about 37.0 C, would the person's temperature actually increase that much? Why not? What would happen first?
Explanation / Answer
heat energy released Q = I^2*R*t
amont of heat absorbed by water Q= m*s*dT
m*S*dT = I^2*R*t
79*4190*(T - 37) = (2.5*10^4)^2*1.5*10^3*40*10^-6
T = 150.3 degrees
T = 150.3 + 273 = 423.3 K
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