Even
ery second of every day, all over the world, there are more than 100 Lightning That's about ten milion lightning bolts in one day to be amazes but it can also frighten us. We have good reason afraid of lightning. Every year, about 100 people in the United States and Canada die from lightning, and another 300 are injured is strange that of oll the people who die from lightning, 84 percent are men. Lightning is the main couse of forest fires it starts more than 9,000 fires each year Lightning is y inside a cloud. Scientists do not know exactly what makes this electricity. But they know that the electricity inside a cloud can be as much as 100 million volts From this extremely strong electricity, a lightning like o streak bright light, c 5 down from the sky. Its temperature con 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit within a few millionths of a second. That's almost five times the temperature on the sun's surface. The lightning bolt is very quick ilt con move at a speed of 87,000 miles per second, A rocket traveling at ihis speed would reach the moon in 2.5 seconds with the lightning bolt, we usually hear thunder, which is the sound of hot air exploding. * Lightning and thunder happen at exoctly the same time, b we see lightning first because light travels a million times faster than sound Lightning often strikes tall buildings. However, many buildings ngs have lightning rods to protect them from lightning. When lightning strikes, the electricity goes safely down the metal rod to the ground Benjamin Franklin, the American statesman, invented the lightning rod ing G In 1760. That is why buildings like the Empire State Building in New armed York City are safe. LIghtning may hit this building as many as twelve times in twenty minutes and as often as 500 times a year. Airplanes are not as easy to protect as buildings, and accidents do happen. In 1963 a Boeing 707 jet hit lightning and croshed. Eighty-one people died harm If you see thunder and lightning coming, here are some things you can do to protect yourself. Go a house, get into a car, or go under a bridge. If you can not find helter, go to the lowest point on the.