have heard both theories
2007-02-12 10:35:02 · 5 answers · asked by luminous 7 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
I've heard both theories as well.. Look up lightening on Wikipedia...
it mentions groud-to-cloud, cloud-to-ground along with about 8 other kinds of lightening!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightening
2007-02-12 10:41:31 · answer #1 · answered by tiggerwmu99 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lightning is the connection between positive and negative charges in the ground and clouds. When the two connect, usually it is one stretching down, one stretching up, to meet in the middle, then the electrical charge shoots down the path, superheating the air around it. The superheated air is what you hear as thunder, the lightning itself shows from the cloud to ground, but the initial connection is both reaching to meet in the middle.
2007-02-12 10:39:31 · answer #2 · answered by Lost in Erehwon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
usually from the ground up (under the cloud), but stronger lightning strikes from the sky down, where the charges are displaced (outside of the cloud farther away)
2007-02-12 10:45:13 · answer #3 · answered by d.treadway 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like you put it, there would be THREE theories,
but it is always from the sky down, absolutely!
2007-02-12 10:40:05 · answer #4 · answered by Corneille 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
from the sky down.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning
2007-02-12 10:37:38 · answer #5 · answered by Pookie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋