lets say a gallon, not a lake or ocean.
2007-03-16 17:49:15 · 6 answers · asked by Pugsly 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
If you are only talking about a gallon of water then that's pretty easy....
Each cloud-to-ground lightning involves an energy of roughly 10^9-10^10 Joules
The water will absorb energy from the lightening bolt and vapourise to steam.
The latent heat of vapourisation of water is 2.23x10 ^6 J/kg (or L). Say a gallon holds 4.5 L, and there is still plenty of energy left over from the lightning.
Other energy would be dissipated through the surrounding area as heat, and there would also be considerable work done in moving physical objects.
2007-03-16 18:01:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Atmospheric electricity is not the most developed science ,no one exactly know what happens to water when it gets hit by lightning ,the best guess would be that it strikes out on the surface cuz water is conductor it might also penetrate down but in your case gallon might just not last long enough before it gets evaporated by the heat ,
2007-03-16 18:15:59 · answer #2 · answered by Mrs.Bin Laden 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the lighting bolt has enough energy, it evaporates the water. If it doesn't, water only acts as a conductor and the electricity merely flows through it. Chemically, nothing happens unless the water has other elements in it (such as salts).
2007-03-16 17:53:22 · answer #3 · answered by professor.shiroguma 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Vaporize. Instantly!
Lightning is hotter then the sun.
2007-03-16 17:53:18 · answer #4 · answered by John P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, since it's 2 parts hydrogen and one part oxygen, if anything happened, I'd say it would separate a small amount of both into the atmosphere.
2007-03-16 17:52:59 · answer #5 · answered by M00ND0CT0R 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it becomes shocked!
2007-03-16 17:52:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋