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.
Where does the lightning come from?
Cloud-to-ground (CG)
lightning comes from the sky down
, but the part you see comes from the ground up. A typical cloud-to-ground flash lowers a path of negative electricity (that we cannot see) towards the ground in a series of spurts. Objects on the ground generally have a positive charge under a typical thunderstorm.
What causes lightning and thunder?
Answer. 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 science behind lightning?
In the initial stages of development, air acts as an insulator between the positive and negative charges in the cloud and between the cloud and the ground; however, when the differences in charges becomes too great, this insulating capacity of the air breaks down and there is a
rapid discharge of electricity
that we …
Is it OK 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.
What are the 3 stages of thunderstorms?
Thunderstorms have three stages in their life cycle:
The developing stage, the mature stage, and the dissipating stage
. The developing stage of a thunderstorm is marked by a cumulus cloud that is being pushed upward by a rising column of air (updraft).
Is lightning hotter than the sun?
Air is a very poor conductor of electricity and gets extremely hot when lightning passes through it. In fact, lightning can heat the air it passes through to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit (
5 times hotter than the surface of the sun
).
Why is lightning so beautiful?
Lightning is an impressive force of nature. It is
as beautiful as it is dangerous
. The brilliant white-blue flash of lightning is caused by its extreme heat. A lightning bolt is hotter than the surface of the sun.
What are the six forms of lightning?
- Cloud-to-Ground (CG) Lightning.
- Negative Cloud-to-Ground Lightning (-CG) …
- Positive Cloud-to-Ground Lightning (+CG) …
- Cloud-to-Air (CA) Lightning. …
- Ground-to-Cloud (GC) Lightning. …
- Intracloud (IC) Lightning.
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.
Can I take a shower in lightning?
The Centers for Disease Control warns people to stay away from plumbing if you're indoors during the storm. “Lightning can travel through plumbing,” the CDC said. “It is best to avoid all water during a lightning storm.
Do not shower, bathe, wash dishes, or wash your hands
.”
Can lightning strike a metal bed?
Lightning is drawn to the nearest metal object, so it would often strike people sleeping in their metal-framed beds. Rest assured, this is
no longer the case
. “It doesn't happen anymore because there's enough wiring in the roof of your house,” Uman said.
Can you overfly a thunderstorm?
Jet aircraft can safely fly over thunderstorms only if their flight altitude is well above the turbulent cloud tops
. … If a busy jet route becomes blocked by intense thunderstorms, traffic will reroute into the neighboring airspace, which can become overcrowded if the flow is not managed (see animation).
How long do thunderstorms last for?
Thunderstorms typically do not last very long and will
most often pass by your location in less than one hour
. The best defense against thunderstorms is to stay inside a sturdy, substantial building that can protect you from lightning, hail, damaging wind, heavy rain, and tornadoes.
Is lightning the sound of thunder?
Thunder is created when lightning passes through the air
. The lightning discharge heats the air rapidly and causes it to expand. … Immediately after the flash, the air cools and contracts quickly. This rapid expansion and contraction creates the sound wave that we hear as thunder.
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.
