Question

Why is it safer to be inside a car than standing under a tree during lightning?

Answer 1

It is safer to be inside the car than standing outside under a tree during lightening because the lightning will travel around the surface of the car and then go to ground. This occurs because the car acts like a Faraday cage. a metal cage would shield objects within the cage when a high potential discharge hit the cage. The metal, being a good conductor, would direct the current around the objects and discharge it safely to the ground. That's why we safer to be inside the car than outside under a tree in lightening.

Answer 2

Electric field inside the conductor is always zero i.e a conductor acts as a shield for the objects placed inside it and prevents it from the effect of external electric field. That's why it is safer to be inside the car as the metal surface of the car acts as a shield for the person and so prevents the person fron lightening.