I read a book saying that there is no heat in electricity.Is lighting a kind of electric?Why does a tree burst into a flame when being strike by lighting?
2007-03-23 19:57:24 · 9 answers · asked by khaiyen999 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Good question. Now here is the scientific answer you sought. The temperature of the air through which a lightning bolt travels may reach 54,000 degrees F, five times hotter than the surface of the Sun. The amperage of a typical thunderstorm may vary from 10,000 to 200,000 amps, with a potential difference of several hundred million volts. The power generated by one thunderstorm may be in the neighborhood of several hundred megawatts.
2007-03-24 02:49:37 · answer #1 · answered by 1ofSelby's 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is a lot of heat in electricity. I've been flash burnt from a bolt of lightning, so I let you know right now it has a ton of heat. Did your book mention electrical burns? Those are quite common. A spark of electricity that you can see, like a bolt of lightning for example, exists in a plasma state, which means by definition it needs to be very hot.
2007-03-24 04:56:11 · answer #2 · answered by weathermanpeter 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your book lied. The air immediately around the a bolt of lightning is heated to millions of degrees, so much so that the actual air itself is momentarily degraded into individual atoms. When a bolt of lightning hits a tree, the heat vaporizes the sap inside which expands rapidly and explodes.
2007-03-24 03:02:19 · answer #3 · answered by Jimmy Sn. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The tree bursts into flame because the millions of coulombs of charge is all sent into the tree, causing the energy to build up and combust the tree.
2007-03-24 03:01:15 · answer #4 · answered by peteryoung144 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
some forms of electricity dont give heat. eg. static.
Lightning does generate heat and is an amazing 30000 degrees; five times hotter than the suns surface.
2007-03-24 19:48:06 · answer #5 · answered by absolutebalderdash1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is heat in electricity, and a bolt of lightning is 1 million degrees Fahrenheit.
2007-03-24 03:01:30 · answer #6 · answered by nightbutterfly69 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ligtning does contain electricity and is as hot as the surface of the sun.
2007-03-24 03:01:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi ABC, As soon as i get hit by a flash of lighting i will let you know. LOL.. A Friend.
Clowmy
2007-03-24 03:03:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning#Facts_and_trivia
Enjoy
2007-03-24 03:02:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋