What is lightning?
Most of the following was taken out of NOAA Technical Memorandum ERL NSSL -102 by Holle and Lopez. Lightning discharges can be classified into two types: Cloud to ground (CG) discharges. These discharges have at least one channel connecting the cloud to the ground [CG; or cloud to water (CW)]. Cloud discharges that have NO channel to ground. These cloud discharges are, in turn, classified as in-cloud (IC), cloud to air (CA), and cloud to cloud (CC). This discussion will highlight the CG types of flashes. A CG lightning discharge is typically initiated inside the thundercloud. It is first apparent when a faint negatively charged channel, the stepped leader, emerges from the base of the cloud. Under the influences of the electric field established between the cloud and the ground, the leader propagates towards the ground in a series of luminous steps of about 1 microsecond (1*10 -6) in duration and 50 to 100 meters in length, with a pause between steps of about 50 microseconds. The stepp
Question: Could you explain the physical characteristics of lightning as it pertains to physics? ———————————————— Answer: Lightning is a discharge of a large electrostatic charge that builds up on clouds near the surface of the earth during atmospheric disturbances such a thunderstorms (duh!). According to Frederick Trinklein (Modern Physics textbook for High Schools) a typical discharge from a lightning bolt is a coulomb of charge. This is rather substantial. Given that the electrical potential that builds up between the cloud and the ground is usually estimated in the high megavolt range, the energy transferred here is remarkable. Obviously if a one megavolt bolt hits something delivering a coulomb of charge in the process a megajoule of energy is transferred. Also given that this whole event takes place in a fraction of a second the power dissipated is equally remarkable. Note: this meagvolt bolt I speak of is purely hypothetical for the sake of examp
