what is the thickness of lightning?

Answer 1

lightning causes air to turn into an ionized gas which then conducts electricity like in a tunnel.
the thickness depends on the energy being transmitted in this process. it's size is between 0.1 cm and 3 cm for the observable part of the lightning

Answer 2

Lightning is the phenomenon of discharge of static electricity accumulated in the clouds to the nearest ground objects. It is basically a transfer of electricity in a split second. That very high velocity transfer creates the flashing because the air acts as a medium and the air molecules gets charged up (some thing very similar to what happens in flouroscent lamps). The charged up molecules generates the thunder sound also.

So by all this, I come to a conclusion that lightning cannot be measured in linear units such as thickness etc. They measure the lightning in Volts like they measure electricity.

Answer 3

Lightning strike often leave fused earth where they exit the ground.
They are an inch or so thick.
The ionization path may be much smaller, the intense heat radiates out to fuse the earth.
This may not be an accurate assessment,but at least it indicates the ionization path in not say a foot wide.

Answer 4

1 cm. We can see it far away because it is very bright.

Answer 5

It can be about 1metre to 1kilo metre

Answer 6

interesting question
sorry, don't know the answer