Why doesnt lightning strike in the same place twice?

Question

is this just rumour or is there a scientific reason?

Answer 1

It's what is called an 'old wives tale'. Oops sexism. It often does strike in the same spot, especially if it is a tall building or similar on it's own.

Answer 2

Although it's perfectly capable of striking the same place twice, it's slightly less likely to strike at point X, given it just struck point X.  The myth has to do with false probabilities, but it's somewhat true because of physics:

When lightning strikes point X, it was because that point had a large enough electric potential (voltage) to cause a breakdown channel in the air (lightning).  Once that channel opens and the accumulated energy is discharged, point X will be at a lower voltage, and will be less likely to create a new breakdown channel.  It's entirely possible, however, for more charge to build up to create a second strike at X.

Answer 3

It's a myth. The Empire State building gets hits 1000's of times a year.

It doesn't have a memory.

Answer 4

It's a calculation of how unlikely it is that it will happen.  Like saying you can't win the big lottery twice - but of course you could.

Answer 5

lightening can strike the same place as many times as it wants. people just say this because it is very unlikely for a certain place to get hit once, so the chance of it being hit twice is almost impossible unless the thing it is hitting is a big metal thing (so the electricity conducts to it)

Answer 6

It's a myth. It does.

Answer 7

how would they really know? it could happen!

Answer 8

Chaos.

Anyway, who says it doesn't?  Lightning conductors and pylons get struck all the time, and they are in the same place.