Lightning & Modern Stadia - Physics Question??

[Rowls]

Well, tonight's game has been stopped because of concerns about lightning.

My question is this - how likely / unlikely is a lightning strike that hits inside the ground and onto the playing surface.

I've only got GCSE "Double Science". I don't even have a physics GCSE.

But wouldn't the stadium act as a giant Faraday cage and lightning rod? Isn't being inside the stadium for the spectators the safest possible place to be? And isn't the pitch effectively protected by the presence of the huge metal structure around them?

OK, I understand there's a big gap in the middle of the stadium but wouldn't the lightning be drawn towards the metal?

Got a Physics degree? Post below!

[GetIntoEm]

It's unlikely, it obviously takes the easiest path which would be the steel frame. People are safe.

[ksrclaret]

I just can’t believe the game was suspended.

The sky was bright blue, I tell you!

[Quickenthetempo]

In local cricket, any lightening heard and it's a 40 minute wait before you can restart.

Nobody will take a chance.

[Rowls]

In local cricket, any lightening heard and it's a 40 minute wait before you can restart.

Nobody will take a chance.

Yes, but that's completely different to being inside a closed modern football stadium.

I suspect there's close to zero danger of playing on in a stadium like the one tonight's game is being held in.

[Vino blanco]

In local cricket, any lightening heard and it's a 40 minute wait before you can restart.

Nobody will take a chance.

Lightning heard?

[Rowls]

Lightning heard?

Hmmmm?

Isn't thunder actually the sound of lightning? Genuinely don't know the answer but think it probably is.

[morninbob]

Might have something to do with this...
https://bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/Laeger- ... an-Richter

[gawthorpe_view]

Hmmmm?

Isn't thunder actually the sound of lightning? Genuinely don't know the answer but think it probably is.

Correct.

Also, steel framed structures act like a Faraday cage protecting those inside.

[Vino blanco]

Thunder is the sound wave (shock wave) caused by the energy of the lightning passing through the air, which it heats up very rapidly to an extremely high temperature. So, you see the lightning and here the subsequent thunder.

[Vino blanco]

Read hear not here.

[distortiondave]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6rIW4uTkpQ

I was there, made my hair stand on end it didn't.

[Quickenthetempo]

Lightning heard?

Yes, you listen for the thunder to work out how far away it supposedly is.

[CoolClaret]

I've only got GCSE "Double Science". I don't even have a physics GCSE.

Least surprising thing I've read on here

[Vino blanco]

As I said above, you see the lightning and hear the subsequent thunder.

[dougcollins]

Yes, you listen for the thunder to work out how far away it supposedly is.

Yes, the difference between the speed of light and the speed of sound. For the sake of this argument the speed of light is instantaneous, sound is 343m per second.

So if you count a two second gap between thunder and lightning, you're around 700m away from the storm.

[mdd2]

A house on our estate was hit by lightening and fire destroyed the roof
The house was in a dip and the lowest of surrounding houses
Can’t assume the players would be safe on the pitch because of the covered stadia and their metal content

[BigAlClaret]

Although the stadium surrounding the pitch would more likely than not attract the strikes,there is still a significant risk to anyone on the pitch because it is not an enclosed Faraday cage.The crowd itself is safe or at least much safer than if they were evacuated into the elements.

[GetIntoEm]

Let's face it, in this day and age if they didn't come off and something did happen, everyone would be moaning that the officials should have taken them off the pitch. Can't win

[Hipper]

Yesterday whilst the lightning was the concern the hail stones would not have been good either.

Very impressive how the pitches drainage coped with the large amount of rain, especially when the roof's gutter system didn't.

[Inchy]

I was very nearly struck by lighting.

I was running the wharfedale 3 peaks and as I was running across Birks fell the sky went black and it started pi55ing it down.

Then the lightning came and I started legging it down to kettlewell. Suddenly I could feel the electricity, and a weird smell. It’s hard to explain but it felt like the air was heavier. The next second I was blinded by a flash of light and loud crack. My mate who was running about 30 yards behind said my reflective jacket lit up and he thought I’d been hit. I’d no idea how close I was to being hit but I wouldn’t wanted it to be any closer

[Foshiznik]

I once went to old Trafford in the early 2000s for a Vodafone tournament game between Boca juniors and PSV and it got called off 70 minutes in because lightning hit the roof of the Stratford end.

[ecc]

Let's face it, in this day and age if they didn't come off and something did happen, everyone would be moaning that the officials should have taken them off the pitch. Can't win

It's best not to take chances.

[Bosscat]

I once went to old Trafford in the early 2000s for a Vodafone tournament game between Boca juniors and PSV and it got called off 70 minutes in because lightning hit the roof of the Stratford end.

They haven't repaired the roof ... looking at the rain pouring through it a couple of months ago

[Paul Waine]

Might have something to do with this...
https://bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/Laeger- ... an-Richter

Hi morninbob, it appears most who've looked at this thread haven't bothered to read your link.

In 2009 a 24 year old Danish footballer, Jonathan Richter, was hit by lightning during a match. He was playing in a reserve game. He lost the lower half of his left leg, ending his career playing football. The coach of his team, FC Nordsjaelland, was Kasper Hjulmand.

Numerous media outlets reported the story last night, explaining why the Danish team, in particular, we keen to suspend the game while lightning was around.

It would be interesting to know if there are any football authority protocols re lightning.

[Clovius Boofus]

A photo from last night.

https://x.com/SebStanbury/status/1807135408687366479

[jos]

I was struck by lightning once, fortunately I was sat in a parked car at the time. Several people that had been watching the storm from a hotel came out to see if I was ok.

It took a while to gather myself and see properly from the bright flash, but I was fine and my car just had a small mark where the strike hit.

I don’t recommend it.

A friend of mine’s house was struck causing all kinds of damage to the roof,wiring, electronics and plasterwork.

[ClaretCliff]

I was told years ago that if you were outside and in the open when lightening was starting the safest thing is to get down on your hands and knees and stick your backside in the air. If you do get hit then it will hit your backside and go to earth down your legs. This means it misses your heart and other vital organs.
No idea how true this is - perhaps someone on here does.

[dougcollins]

I was told years ago that if you were outside and in the open when lightening was starting the safest thing is to get down on your hands and knees and stick your backside in the air. If you do get hit then it will hit your backside and go to earth down your legs. This means it misses your heart and other vital organs.
No idea how true this is - perhaps someone on here does.

Did the person also suggest you might want to do this when it's not lightening, by any chance?

[ClaretCliff]

Did the person also suggest you might want to do this when it's not lightening, by any chance?

thankfully no!

[CoolClaret]

I was told years ago that if you were outside and in the open when lightening was starting the safest thing is to get down on your hands and knees and stick your backside in the air. If you do get hit then it will hit your backside and go to earth down your legs. This means it misses your heart and other vital organs.
No idea how true this is - perhaps someone on here does.

That must have been what all those people were doing that I saw driving past Crown Point, late one stormy October evening...

[Clovius Boofus]

Did the person also suggest you might want to do this when it's not lightening, by any chance?

[atlantalad]

I am guessing it depends on ionisation differential between the charged clouds and air emanating from inside the stadium. Given there were probably 80000 supporters breathing out warm, moist, air which rises and is funnelled through the stadium roof opening I think the surrounding steel superstructure may only have a secondary influence - prior to the rain arriving.

[houseboy]

Yes, the difference between the speed of light and the speed of sound. For the sake of this argument the speed of light is instantaneous, sound is 343m per second.

So if you count a two second gap between thunder and lightning, you're around 700m away from the storm.

Actually Doug (and being pedantic) the speed of light is 186,000 miles per second, not instantaneous, but still pretty fast.

[Rowls]

*wrestling announcer voice*

"For sale of argument" meets "being pedantic"...

Who will win in this ultimate internet showdown?!

[dougcollins]

Actually Doug (and being pedantic) the speed of light is 186,000 miles per second, not instantaneous, but still pretty fast.

I said 'for the sake of this argument'.

If you're trying to calculate how far you are from a storm, you can consider the speed of light as being instantaneous.

[houseboy]

I said 'for the sake of this argument'.

If you're trying to calculate how far you are from a storm, you can consider the speed of light as being instantaneous.

I know bud. Just joking. Like I said, I’m Mr Pedantic.