Q. When lightning flashes from the earth to the clouds, what is the flash called?
A. It is called the “returning stroke;” because the earth (being over-burdened with electric fluid) returns the surplus quantity to the clouds.
Q. Why is it dangerous to lean back against a wall during a thunder-storm?
A. Because the electric fluid sometimes runs down the wall of a house or room; and (as a man is a better conductor than a brick wall), would make him its path, and injure him.
Q. Why is it dangerous to ring a bell during a thunder-storm?
A. Bell-wire is an excellent conductor; and (if a person were to touch the bell-handle), the electric fluid, passing down the wire, might run through his hand and injure it.
Q. Why would the lightning run through a man touching a bell-handle?
A. Because the human body is a better conductor than the wall (between the bell-handle and the floor); and as lightning always chooses the best conductors for its path, it would (in this case) pass through the man, and injure him.
Q. Why is it dangerous to bar a shutter during a thunder-storm?