Final answer:
Being in a car during a tornado is generally unsafe due to the vehicle's vulnerability to powerful winds and flying debris. However, during an electrical storm, the car's metal body functions as a protective Faraday cage. The safest action in a tornado is to seek shelter in a sturdy building.
Step-by-step explanation:
Generally, it is not considered safe to be inside an automobile during a tornado. The powerful winds of a tornado can lift and flip vehicles, cause debris to strike them, or blow out windows, exposing passengers to potential harm.
However, the scenario changes during electrical storms. If you're driving a car in such a situation, it's safer to stay inside the car as its metal body acts as a Faraday cage with zero electrical field inside. If lightning were to strike, the effect is felt on the outside of the car, and the interior would remain unaffected, provided you're completely inside.
Despite this, it's essential to understand that tornadoes are powerful displays of rotational motion, with high winds that can reach up to 500 km/h. Storm chasing is dangerous as tornadoes can change course rapidly with little warning. The safest course of action during a tornado is to seek shelter in a strong, sturdy building.
Learn more about Tornado Safety