Lightning and Thunder - A brief study.

Lightning & Thunder

Lightning can be defined as the sudden and violent discharge of electrical charge when two electrically charged region in the atmosphere comes together basically, the thunderclouds. During lightning, the air surrounded get expand due to the sudden increase in temperature and pressure causes the formation of sonic shock waves, known as thunder. Even the two phenomena happen at the same time, the thunder will come after the lightning only which emphasize the concrete fact of ‘light travels faster than sound’.

Thunderstorm electrification.

Studies say that due to upward and downward draft the positive charge gets accumulated at the base and the top part of the thunderstorm. Whereas the negative charge will get accumulated in the middle of the cloud. When the accumulated charge become sufficient the discharging will happen commonly in three ways.

Cloud to cloud discharge.

When the electrical discharge is between the oppositely charged regions of the same cloud or two different cloud, it is known as the cloud to cloud discharge. Since the discharge channel is within the cloud it may not be visible from the ground and it may not cause any threat to human life or his assets. Cloud to cloud lightning is the most frequently occurring lightning.

Cloud to ground discharge.

When the electrical discharge is between the cloud and the ground is known as the cloud to ground discharge or cloud to ground lightning. This type of lightning may cause harm to human life and his assets.

Cloud to air discharge.

When the electrical discharge from the cloud to the air and not striking the ground is known as the cloud to air discharge or cloud to air lightning. It occurs in a fashion that streaks through the air with multiple thin branches from the main branch.

Lightning protection system.

We know that the lightning is a sudden and violent discharge of electric charge, it can cause millions of losses to the assets and human life if it is exposed. To avoid the damages or losses all the high rise building or the exposed equipment has to be equipped with a lightning arrester which will route the electric charge to the earth and save things.

It consists of an air terminal/ lightning rod which is mounted on the top of the building to protect the structure from the lightning. This air terminal is properly connected to the earth rod using copper wire/copper tape.

Understand the facts in a simple way which will help to understand the complex facts.


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