Usually, if u pay attention when you see lightning, its this zig-zagged shape...why is that?
2006-06-23 04:49:28 · 8 answers · asked by PenguinLuver 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Because it travels along the least obstructed air. As air is sometimes denser at certain elevations the lightning flows along the path of least resistence.
2006-06-23 04:57:59 · answer #1 · answered by Fays Daze 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say because it is following the path of least resistance to reach its destination - this path is not usually, if ever, a straight line.
Think of it this way. If you wanted to reach the water fountain from down the hall but there was a group of people standing in the middle of the hall. Would you burst right through their group just because you wanted to go in a straight line to the water fountain? No. It would take up too much time and energy. It would just be easier to go around the group to reach the water fountain.
Hope this helped!
2006-06-23 04:52:32 · answer #2 · answered by BeC 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The positive and negative electrons the a bolt of lightning follow are not going to be in a straight line. They are floating all around in the sky. The electrical charge will follow the positive to negative and back to positive etc pattern.
2006-06-24 14:33:00 · answer #3 · answered by Stormy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's because as negative charges travel from the bottom of the cloud on their way to the ground, they 'jump' every 50-100 meters from air molecule to air molecule (stepped leaders) as they are repelling against the negative charges in the cloud base, and attracting to the positive streamer near the ground. They don't necessarily take a straight, direct path down because air molecules are randomly scattered about. So every jump they take may go in a different direction.
2006-06-23 06:40:09 · answer #4 · answered by Bean 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I thought it would be simpler...but sorry...I don't know whether you'll understand this...since it does involve some understanding of physics...
And absolutely it is not my explanation and I don't want any credit for it...
2006-06-23 04:56:07 · answer #5 · answered by Dil 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i believe it's because the alignment of the charged particles in the air.
2006-06-23 05:01:09 · answer #6 · answered by Knowledge Seeker 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It appears zigzagged because it is.
2006-06-23 04:54:16 · answer #7 · answered by Scott R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it has so much energy
2006-06-28 02:32:36 · answer #8 · answered by Blake T 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋