I am currently an undergraduate student leading a discussion section for an introductory electricity and magnetism course. I was asked this question that I was unable to answer and I am hoping for some help in understanding what is going on.
I was told by this student that he and his girlfriend were driving along a highway when lightning struck the roof of their car. Although they were unharmed by the lightning (Faraday cage), my student claimed that his car stalled and was unable to turn it back on right away. However, after about 5 to 10 minutes, the car started up immediately. So my question is how does lightning striking the roof of a car stall a moving car?
Best Answer
I suspect that there are must be two different effects: one that causes the car to stop, which would be more or less immediate in effect, and another that dissipates after some minutes.
For the immediate effect that causes the car to stop, this would most likely be electrical, such as an induced surge in the automobile's Engine Control Unit (ECU). According to a NOAA site about lightning safety, "damage to the antenna, electrical system, rear windshield, and tires is common" in automotive lightning strikes.
For the longer term effect that might prevent the car from immediately restarting, the effect is probably either: