• Question: what causes lightning?

    Asked by Danielle to Aaron, David, Elaine, Sarah, Zoe on 14 Nov 2014. This question was also asked by ExplosiveBiskit.
    • Photo: David Foley

      David Foley answered on 14 Nov 2014:

      When water droplets in clouds collide, it results in a build up of large electrical fields in the clouds. Once these electric fields become large enough, a giant “spark” occurs between them (or between them and the ground) like static electricity, reducing the charge separation. The lightning spark can occur between clouds, between the cloud and air, or between the cloud and ground.

    • Photo: Zoe Roberts

      Zoe Roberts answered on 17 Nov 2014:

      It is a bit like when you take your wooly jumper off and you can hear the static ‘click’ as your tshirt and your jumper release the charge. (I used to have a friend that would build up soo much static that if you turned the lights off you could see the charges light up!)
      Lightening is the same idea but it occurs between clouds, air, water and earth. The electrical charge takes the quickest route to the earth. That is why it is not good to stand in the middle of an empty field in a thunder storm!

Comments