Air passengers always asking what happens if a plane is struck by lightning? Commercial airliners experience stormy weather almost every time they fly, but more often than not, they fly in stormy weather. With that in mind, lightning strikes are actually quite common. However, passengers and crew on board are generally unaffected thanks to modern engineering techniques. In all but the most severe lightning strikes, most passengers will not even notice that their plane has been hit.When lightning strikes an airplane, it usually attaches to the end of the plane - usually a tip such as the nose or wingtips. The charge then travels through the skin of the aircraft before exiting the other end, such as the tail and antennae located at the rear of the fuselage.Some passengers and crew near aircraft entrances and exits may notice the effects of a lightning strike, usually a loud bang and may even feel static. However, these passengers are definitely not shocked! This is possible because the plane's fuselage is made of conductive materials such as aluminum, which allows the lightning current to travel quickly across the plane's surface without penetrating the interior. This effect is known as the Faraday cage effect, named after the famous scientist Michael Faraday. It is a phenomenon in physics where a closed conductor (in our case, an airframe) spreads an electric charge or electromagnetic field around its exterior, thereby shielding its interior from these forces. All aircraft, regardless of the materials used in their construction, must meet strict safety standards, including the ability to withstand lightning strikes. These requirements ensure that all aircraft act as effective Faraday cages, protecting passengers and sensitive onboard equipment from the potentially harmful effects of a lightning strike.There is no doubt that lightning strikes on a commercial aircraft are still an amazing sight. Passengers and crew will occasionally hear loud noises, feel a strong sensation of static electricity, and may even smell electrical burning. However, in general, passengers will hardly notice that lightning has struck the plane. Even in those rare cases when passengers feel a strong lightning strike, there is no reason to panic. In fact, such incidents are so common in commercial aviation that they happen to every commercial aircraft once a year. Thanks to strict design principles and strict safety regulations, modern airplanes are perfectly capable of withstanding these impacts with virtually no permanent damage.The outer skin of the aircraft acts as a Faraday cage, spreading the charge across the surface and preventing it from getting inside. This is true whether the aircraft is made of traditional conductive materials such as aluminum or new composite materials.That's not all! After an aircraft has been struck by lightning, it should be carefully inspected for possible damage. These checks ensure that the aircraft is kept in top operating condition and that any damage (however unlikely) is repaired promptly. In conclusion, fear of lightning should not stop you from enjoying your flight. Remember, the next time your plane is struck by lightning, you'll be in one of the safest places to safely witness an awe-inspiring sight of the forces of nature on board.
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