i just saw a lighting hit a big tree and split it in half like butter and it was a very big oak tree
2007-05-03 15:48:14 · 5 answers · asked by Black GT 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
1.21 gigawatts
2007-05-04 15:03:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The typical return stroke of lightning which has attached to a ground based object averages around 30kA. A current of approximately 30kA (50% probability), will have an approximate frequency range from dc to 1MHz, with a minimum current value of approximately 9kA and a maximum current value of approximately 400kA. (Lightning is a constant (fixed) curent event.)
The surge voltage is dependent on the resistance of the circuit to the earth through the structure struck. Earth has a normal resistivity of between 4,000 ohm-centimeters to 50,000 ohm-centimeters. The self-inductance of earth can be estimated at .5x10^-6H.
A minimum voltage of approximately 7.5kV in the earth will be imposed at the point of a 30kA lightning strike. It's not uncommon to see return stroke voltages of over 1 million volts.
2007-05-04 01:17:58 · answer #2 · answered by Bryan H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Using Bryans numbers as correct it would be about 30,000,000,000watts or about 30,000MW. Lightning also is rather hot being several times hotter than the surface of the sun.
2007-05-06 19:11:57 · answer #3 · answered by Art Newbie Bill 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
amps time volts equal watts and these quantities vary here is a link to one lighting bolt http://teslamania.delete.org/frames/longarc.htm#Lightning_Block
2007-05-03 15:56:52 · answer #4 · answered by dogpatch USA 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i remember my college chem II book was saying that avagadro's number of electrons came down. said it was more severe at southern latitudes. wiki says up to 5 coulombs.
2007-05-03 17:09:28 · answer #5 · answered by kman 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋