Why don't airplanes crash when they fly through clouds that make lightning?
Have you ever looked up at a big, dark cloud and wondered how airplanes can fly right through it? It makes sense to be confused. Clouds can make lightning and storms. They look huge and solid, like floating mountains in the sky.
But the truth is clouds are not solid at all. They might look scary, but flying through most clouds is actually safe. Let's learn what clouds really are and why airplanes can fly through them without any problems.
What Are Clouds Made Of?
Even though clouds look fluffy and solid, they are not. Clouds are made of tiny water drops or ice pieces floating in the air. These drops are super small much smaller than a raindrop. In fact, they're so tiny that millions of them together still don't create much resistance.
Think of clouds like fog in the sky. If you've ever walked through fog, you know it doesn't push you back or stop you. For an airplane flying at 500 miles per hour, clouds feel the same way.
There are different types of clouds though. The white, fluffy clouds you see on sunny days are called cumulus clouds, and they're harmless. But the tall, dark storm clouds called cumulonimbus clouds are different. These bring thunder, lightning, and bumpy rides.
Can Clouds Really Cause Lightning?
How do clouds cause lightning? Yes, clouds can make lightning, but it's not because they're solid. Here's how it works in simple terms.
Inside tall storm clouds, air moves up and down very fast. This moving air makes tiny water drops and ice pieces bump into each other over and over again. When they crash together, they create electricity, just like when you rub a balloon on your hair.
All this electricity builds up until there's too much of it. Then it jumps out as lightning. It's like nature's version of getting shocked when you touch a doorknob after walking on carpet.
Why Planes Can Fly Through Most Clouds Safely?
Why can airplanes fly through clouds? The simple answer is that clouds don't have enough stuff in them to stop or hurt an airplane. The water drops are spread out so much that planes can move through them easily.
Most passenger planes fly through clouds all the time. The only real problem is that pilots can't see outside when they're in a cloud. But that's okay because modern planes have special computers and instruments that help pilots know exactly where they are and where they're going, even when they can't see anything outside.
What About Storm Clouds and Turbulence?
Can airplanes fly through storm clouds? Storm clouds are much more dangerous than regular clouds. These giant clouds can be over 50,000 feet tall and are full of strong winds, hail, and rough air that can make the plane shake a lot.
But pilots don't just fly through storm clouds hoping for the best. Instead, they avoid them completely. Pilots use special radar that can see storms from far away. Air traffic controllers help them find safe paths around dangerous weather. Thousands of flights change their routes every year to stay away from storms.
What Happens When Lightning Hits a Plane?
This might surprise you, but airplanes get hit by lightning all the time, and it's usually not dangerous at all.
Commercial airplanes are built to handle lightning strikes. The metal body of the plane acts like a protective cage. When lightning hits, the electricity travels around the outside of the plane and then exits through the tail or wings. The people and equipment inside stay safe.
Before any commercial airplane can fly passengers, it has to pass tests to make sure it can handle lightning strikes safely.
So, are clouds solid? Not at all. They're like fog floating in the sky - mostly harmless water vapor. The real danger comes from the weather patterns that some clouds bring, not from the clouds themselves.
Airplanes are built to fly through fog, rain, and even lightning strikes. But pilots still respect dangerous storm systems and avoid them when possible.
Got any questions? Drop them in the comments or share this article with a curious friend!
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