how many volts are in a lightning bolt???????

Answer 1

This question can never be answered, only speculate. Many attempts have been made to measure the voltage, and each time the measurement equipment have been blown to pieces.Lightning facts

* A lightning charge contains 30 million volts at 100,000 amperes.
* The total energy in a large thunderstorm is more than that in an atomic bomb.
* About a hundred U.S. residents are killed by lightning every year.
* Benjamin Franklin's famous kite experiment, in 1752, showed that lightning was electricity.
* The Empire State Building in New York City is struck by lightning about 25 times every year.

In Tampa, USF, they have deliberately set off rockets into the air during a thunder storm, and each time, lightning hit it, a partial measurement before total blow out. Lightning is hotter then the sun, more destructive then a locomotive, and yes it can leap tall buildings. It can side strike for miles, strike between clouds, and earth to cloud strikes. When lightning strikes the earth it is so hot, that if the soil is sandy in nature it will turn to glass. We call that Argonaut here in Florida.
If I was a guessing man, it would have to be in the Billions of volts. Also the voltage would be different based on how far it has to reach earth. In Florida, it has to be really high since we are below sea level. In the Rockies it would be that much.
The Question is: how many people that read this, actually have a UPS, on their computer, a $100.00 surge suppressor, or even a Main panel surge suppression on their house. The answer to that question would be, very few and I am the exception. Only a minority of people will do all three and I have done far more including a three stage two tank circuit designed surge suppression on the phone line.
More people the electronics devices have been struck by lightning by talking to someone on the phone. After it happens, they are never right in the head again.

Answer 2

It is a long time since I did the experiment at school with a Van De Graaf generator but I think it is about 180,000 volts for each centimetre of the gap. If this is right then a 300 metre (about 1000 feet) lightning bolt requires 300 x 100 x 180,000 volts. That makes it about 5.4 gigaVolts. Stand well clear!

Answer 3

It has the potential of 10 million volts.

Answer 4

as high as 100 millions volts

Answer 5

As much as 1 billion volts. So its very unlikely to survive if ur struck!

Answer 6

Varies, but can be in the 100 million range

Answer 7

A lot!

Answer 8

I don't know