Does lightning always hit something?

Answer 1

Yes, it always seeks ground. Lightning is like static electricity on a huge scale. As the earth rotates the passing dust particles cause friction creating electrical potential. As the dust collects it forms clouds and can hold water. Water is a great conductor, so it can store static electricity, creating thunder clouds. When a lightning spark goes off it tries to seek the ground so it can discharge. However, it will discharge on anything that it hits along the way, including planes. Occasionally lightning does spark between two different dust clouds, but the potential is still there. It does not discharge, and stop sparking, until it reaches ground. If it hits and airplane then the electricity is not discharged, the plane is carrying it. When the plane lands it will discharge itself into the ground (the tarmac).

Answer 2

I'm assuming your definition of "hit something" would be that the lightning travels through a foreign object outside of the ground & clouds, like a tree or a person.

No, it does not. Lightning can travel through the air just fine, though when someone or something gets in the way & happens to work as a good conductor to process things a bit faster (air is a poor conductor of electricity, though this doesn't stop the millions of volts), then it's gonna be hit.

Answer 3

Lightning occurs between charges. There need to be positive and negative chages in between an empty area (i.e. vacuum or air). Due to the fact that there should be a material to carry charges, lightning always hits something.

Answer 4

No not all the time! Most lightning strikes do hit the ground or a structure some don't!

Answer 5

Yes, charged electrons always hit another electron, at the very least. After the impact and the energy is released, you will see it dissipate as lightning flash.

Answer 6

Lightning actually is coming from the ground. It launches into the clouds and then returns. The return is what we see.

That is why they say don't stand out alone away from tall items, don't stand under tall items, dont' wear metal on shoes.

Its not that you attract the sky but rather that you attract the ground.

Answer 7

It is the "something" that attracts the lightning from the sky and draws it to earth...so yes. Best wishes

Answer 8

Lightning hits timber plenty because timber are frequently the tallest merchandise contained in the section and lightning purely tries to hit the nearest aspect. in view that lightning comes from the sky, the nearest aspect is often the tallest aspect which timber ensue to be commonly.

Answer 9

Technically speaking lightning never touches anything. In fact, you've never touched anything in your life as the electrons in your atoms are only sensing the resistance of other electrons around you to create a sense of touch.

Answer 10

I think it doesn't really "hit" something. Watch it in slow motion and see the "leaders" jump up to meet the arc from the air.