Lightning is an electrical discharge caused by imbalances between storm clouds and the ground , or within the clouds themselves. Most lightning occurs within the clouds. ... This heat causes surrounding air to rapidly expand and vibrate, which creates the pealing thunder we hear a short time after seeing a lightning flash.
How do you explain lightning to a child?
Lightning is a powerful burst of electricity that happens very quickly during a thunderstorm. Lightning can occur inside clouds, between clouds and from clouds to the ground. Around one quarter of lightning is from cloud to ground. Lightning is caused by an electrical charge in the atmosphere that is unbalanced .
How are lightning and thunder caused?
Thunder is caused by the rapid expansion of the air surrounding the path of a lightning bolt . ... As lightning connects to the ground from the clouds, a second stroke of lightning will return from the ground to the clouds, following the same channel as the first strike.
What is the 30 30 rule for lightning?
After you see lightning, start counting to 30. If you hear thunder before you reach 30, go indoors . Suspend activities for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder. If you are caught in an open area, act quickly to find adequate shelter.
Is lightning hotter than the sun?
In fact, lightning can heat the air it passes through to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit ( 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun ). ...
Is it safe to watch TV during a thunderstorm?
It isn't dangerous to watch TV during a thunderstorm , but the electronics in a TV set are vulnerable. If you have to make a telephone call, use a mobile phone detached from its cable rather than a landline device. Over-voltages resulting from a lightning strike may follow electrical conductors into the handset.
Is it safe to stand near a window during a thunderstorm?
Fact: While a house is the safest place you can be during a storm, just going inside isn't enough. You must avoid any conducting path leading outside, such as electrical appliances, wires, TV cables, plumbing, metal doors or metal window frames. Don't stand near a window to watch the lightning .
What happens if lightning strikes your house?
If your home gets struck by lightning, you will hear a very loud, powerful boom that might shake your entire house . ... When a lightning charge travels through electrical wiring, it can cause an explosive surge. This may cause a fire and almost certainly will destroy the wires.
What color lightning is the strongest?
- Blue – this color of lightning is an indication that a high precipitation storm is occurring with chances of hail. ...
- Purple – this color of lightning occurs when there is high humidity in the atmosphere and is typically accompanied by high precipitation.
How often is the Eiffel Tower struck by lightning?
The Eiffel tower and lightning have a long history. Since its birth in 1889, the monument has “attracted” lightning during storms – there are on average 5 impacts every year .
What's the hottest thing in the universe?
The dead star at the center of the Red Spider Nebula has a surface temperature of 250,000 degrees F, which is 25 times the temperature of the Sun's surface. This white dwarf may, indeed, be the hottest object in the universe.
Is it safe to poop during a thunderstorm?
That combined with the methane gas in poop caused the bomb-like effect that traveled through the pipes, exploding the toilet in their master bathroom. ... The plumbing company said this is just as rare as getting struck by lightning yourself. Luckily, the mess will be covered by insurance.
Where is the safest place to be during a lightning storm?
A car or other enclosed metal structure is the safest place to be in a thunderstorm. Failing that, a ditch, trench or group of shrubs of uniform height is better than nothing. Keep away from boundary areas between dissimilar terrain (water and land; rock and earth; trees and fields).
Can lightning go through a house?
Myth: If you are in a house, you are 100% safe from lightning. Fact: A house is a safe place to be during a thunderstorm as long as you avoid anything that conducts electricity . This means staying off corded phones, electrical appliances, wires, TV cables, computers, plumbing, metal doors and windows.
Can I charge my phone during a thunderstorm?
While it is safe to use a cellphone (if it's not plugged into a wall charger, that is) during a thunderstorm, it is not safe to use your landline. Lightning can travel through the phone lines—and if it does, you could be electrocuted.
Can I use my phone during a thunderstorm?
Because the danger comes from lightning traveling through outdoor wiring, cordless and cellular phones are generally safe . Use them outside during a storm, however, and they become a hazard like any other metal object.
