I'm confused about this. I read in a book all about lightning that lightning comes from the ground, but I read that it comes from the sky, so I want to know where it comes from. Please just tell me where it comes from and why.
2006-08-08 08:08:47 · 7 answers · asked by aximili12hp 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Reminder: I want to know where lightning comes from and why. You can leave the why out, but not the lightning direction.
2006-08-08 09:16:41 · update #1
And I do know what is lightning.
2006-08-08 09:17:21 · update #2
Lightning travels from negative charge to positive charge. The earth is typically the positive charge, while thunderclouds are generally negative. So lightning usually travels from clouds to earth. However, the earth can sometimes hold a negative charge and the clouds can have positive. Lightning can travel up, down or even sideways between clouds. All this happens as the earth tries to "balance the charges".
2006-08-08 08:27:05 · answer #1 · answered by gregory_s19 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Since lightning is just a stream of electrons traveling from one area to another, its direction is the direction that the electrons are moving. So in order to figure out the direction, you need to know the charges of the two points that the lightning connects.
2006-08-08 16:41:38 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A cloud-to-ground lightning strike begins as an invisible channel of electrically charged air moving from the cloud toward the ground. When one channel nears an object on the ground, a powerful surge of electricity from the ground moves UPWARD to the cloud and produces the visible lightning strike!
2006-08-08 08:19:52 · answer #3 · answered by Deven K 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lightening is as a result of clouds breaking. You see the light before you hear the thunder claps because light travels faster than sound. The earth is considered negatively charged. Electric Field lines always move from positive pole to negative pole. I'll assume that lightening produces positive charges and that results in its attraction towards earth.
2006-08-08 08:23:44 · answer #4 · answered by Ibro 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Attraction between positives(earth) and negatives(sky) results in lightning.
2006-08-08 08:13:32 · answer #5 · answered by flit 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As always: electrons jump from lower to higher potential since they are negative. Then the electrical energy decreases.You get for it light, sound and heat.
Th
2006-08-08 08:34:07 · answer #6 · answered by Thermo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
both ways. the electrical charges attract and connect from the sky and the earth
2006-08-08 08:13:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋