[Gottogo49]

Originally Posted by MathGeek

Actually, it's a little of both. Lightning wants to take the shortest path to electrical ground. If the metal object is electrically grounded (has a conducting path to earth), then it will attract lightning, but even more if it happens to be tall, because height shortens the path. But a tall bus, or even a tall piece of metal equipment being moved on a semi trailer won't attract lightening, because the rubber tires are an insulator and prevent there from being an electrical path to ground. However, even some things that seem like insulators conduct well enough to attract lightning, trees for example, the saps is a moderate conductor, sort of like salt water, blood, or urine (never pee on an electric fence).

I've had a couple of occasions caught in a t-storm where I quickly put all the poles in the boat horizontal. They are normally in vertical rod holders and extend 11 ft above the water line. Once they are wet, they will conduct and attract lightning.

Did you see the Myth Busters one about peeing on a electric fence? They showed that the stream is too broken up to conduct electricity. Anyway, I'm not going to try and prove them wrong - no peeing on a fence for me. HaHa!