Electrical discharge can travel through telephone cords.
Explanation
Lightning is a high-voltage electrostatic discharge that occurs during thunderstorms. Electric current flows through paths of least resistance, and metallic conductors-such as copper wires used in landline telephones-are excellent conduits for this electrical charge.
Option Analysis:
- Telephone signals attract lightning strikes. is Incorrect: Telephone signals are low-voltage transmissions and do not possess properties that attract lightning. Lightning strikes are determined by the accumulation of charge and the electric field intensity, usually focusing on tall or isolated objects.
- Electrical discharge can travel through telephone cords. is Correct: Telephone lines often run outdoors on poles where they are exposed to the elements. If lightning strikes the lines or a nearby pole, the massive electrical discharge can travel along the conductive wires into the building. Since the user is in physical contact with the handset connected to these wires, the current can pass through the device, posing a risk of fatal electric shock.
- The sound of the ringtone interferes with thunder. is Incorrect: There is no scientific relationship between the acoustic properties of a ringtone and the electrical phenomenon of thunder or lightning.
- The handset acts as a lightning rod. is Incorrect: A lightning rod is a protective device grounded specifically to divert current safely into the earth. A telephone handset is not grounded for high-voltage protection and acts merely as the endpoint of a conductive path, making it dangerous rather than protective.
Key Takeaway:
Wired communication devices are hazardous during thunderstorms because external wires can conduct high-voltage surges from lightning strikes directly to the user. Wireless or mobile phones are safer as they lack this physical connection to the external grid.