Lightning magnet?

[csb3tennessee]

Ok- I'm going to go way out on a limb and risk getting a lot of ridicule for asking this question. But I'm really curious to see what you guys think. We've had a lot of lightning strikes in our area lately, and it has me pondering this question-
Would the presence of 4-5 tons of copper cents stored in a basement increase the chance of that house getting struck by lightning?
I know it may sound absurd, but I'm just a wonderin'......

csb

[TheJonasCollegeFund]

Only if you connect it to your lightning rod on your roof!

[csb3tennessee]

Well- no lightning rod on my house (or any other in my area that I'm aware of that has been built in the last 50 yrs)
Seriously, would a large amount of metal within the confines of a house attract lightning?

Thanks again for your responses

[stlouiscoin]

i dont know... I wouldn't doubt it if it was possible though.

[bman]

I don't think so because that pile of copper isn't grounded.

[bazmonkey]

No, it wouldn't affect it. You'd see lightning striking your copper if it was.

Think of it this way: the lightning can't use your copper to get to the ground faster or more efficiently.

[Engineer]

If you're worried about it, encourage your next door neighbor to put a lightning rod on his house. That way the lightning will hit his house instead of yours.

[ScottyTX]

Well, my thought is good lightning rods are made out of copper and sometimes alumnium as well. You say your storing a hugh pile of copper in the basement eh? I would think the house itself and ground surrounding your basement would be more than ample insulation blocking any chances of increased attractiveness....

[HoardCopperByTheTon]

If you can get the lightning to strike it you would have a legal way to melt.

[barrytrot]

If you can get the lightning to strike it you would have a legal way to melt.

The resultant fire/damage/mayhem might not make that worth it though.

[bazmonkey]

If you can get the lightning to strike it you would have a legal way to melt.

The resultant fire/damage/mayhem might not make that worth it though.

Not to get nerdy, but lightning rods survive strikes just fine. I think a pile of pennies would.

Now, if they're wrapped...

[myfundsarelow]

Asking questions is a search for knowledge, incorrect answers are a lack of knowledge PEACE!!

[dannan14]

If you can get the lightning to strike it you would have a legal way to melt.

The resultant fire/damage/mayhem might not make that worth it though.

Are you saying there are times when mayhem isn't worth it?

[IronMan]

Well, my thought is good lightning rods are made out of copper and sometimes alumnium as well. You say your storing a hugh pile of copper in the basement eh? I would think the house itself and ground surrounding your basement would be more than ample insulation blocking any chances of increased attractiveness....

Having built a few, building codes typically have homes with a copper rod imbedded in the ground connected to you electrical system to ground the house. Many other things can tie in to this as well )Example: Plumbing), or they can use separate rods. Most builders are too cheap to do more than one. In really dry areas you my be required to have one 2x deep. Without moister it doesn't ground so well, so you have to go deeper. Yes that much copper may be attractive in the aspect of it is super conductive. The factor stated before is will it be easier for me to get to the ground to hit/go through you/it! Surrounded by concrete walls that are grounded and buried is a hugh deterent. Make sure you house has a proper ground installed already.

[OtusLotus]

Why don't you send this question to MythBusters, and see what they come up with?

[penny pretty]

adam young strikes Lightning! oops wrong thread...

[Engineer]

I have a 7000# chunk of steel sitting in the driveway...and it hasn't been hit yet. 30 ton bulldozers don't seem to get hit much either.

Think of your mass of metal like an (electro)magnet, and realize that magnetic attraction decreases by the cube of the distance. If you double the height from ground level, it only takes 1/8 of the mass to provide the same attraction. Triple the height, and it only takes 1/27 of the mass. Even if you had the copper at ground level +6", a metal roof on a single story ranch would be approximately the same mass but at 20' high, which would mean it would be 64,000 times more likely to be hit by lightning.

[jldco]

I have a 7000# chunk of steel sitting in the driveway...and it hasn't been hit yet. 30 ton bulldozers don't seem to get hit much either.

Think of your mass of metal like an (electro)magnet, and realize that magnetic attraction decreases by the cube of the distance. If you double the height from ground level, it only takes 1/8 of the mass to provide the same attraction. Triple the height, and it only takes 1/27 of the mass. Even if you had the copper at ground level +6", a metal roof on a single story ranch would be approximately the same mass but at 20' high, which would mean it would be 64,000 times more likely to be hit by lightning.

I used to think I was stupid... now there is pretty much no doubt