What causes lightning? And Thunder?

Question

I can't understand why they just happen....

Answer 1

Particles in a cloud gain a negative charge from the friction of them hitting each other in the updraft/downdraft of the storm and as they rain down. This means that if there is a storm with a strong updraft, there will be more collision between the particles. This is why the most lightning occurs with the strongest storms. Once there is the negative charge in the cloud, it induces a positive charge on the ground below it. The negative charge is then released by a bunch of very small strikes between the small positive charge ni the cloud and the large negative charge in the cloud. This negative charge then races to the ground in "steps". These steps are about 50 meters long each and the lightning can change direction at the end of any step. The entirety of the negative charge heading towards earth is called the stepped leader. While this negative charge heads towards the ground, a smaller, positive charge comes up from the earth to meet the falling negative charge. These meet and result in the return stroke which is the visible lightning. After the return stroke, there can be several more flashes in the same bolt from what are called dart leaders.

Answer 2

Lightning is caused by a build up of opposite electrical charges either between clouds or between clouds and the ground. If it's between ground and clouds, usually the clouds are negatively charge and the ground is neutral or positively charged. The same thing happens to the spark plugs in your car to ignite the fuel except on a much smaller scale and in a very controlled environment.

Another way to imagine this is if you have ever gotten off your couch or chair and felt a shock when you touched something like a door knob. That is miniature lightning!

The thunder is like static noise you might hear on a bad phone connection except so much larger in volume that it rumbles.

Answer 3

Lightning is caused by charges that build up in clouds when the clouds are agitated. When the charge is high enough its great enough to forge a passage to something postively charged on Earth, usually something pointy and metallic. Although lightning usually just passes between clouds with suffiently different charges.

Thunder is easily explained.The lightning rapidly heats up the air causing it to expand. The boom is that agitated air emanating forth from the strike path.

Answer 4

It's the static between the postive and negative energy of the ground and sky. It's just like when you put your finger next to a static-charged blanket. It gives you a spark. Lightning is the same thing only on a much larger scale.

Answer 5

God rubbing his hair with a balloon and touching a doorknob.