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📘 How a lightning bolt forms

Trace charge separation, leaders, streamers, return strokes, and thunder.

10
lessons
~10 min
to learn
🔬 Science
subject
Adults
level
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What you’ll learn

  1. Charge in the storm
  2. Electric field
  3. Ionization
  4. Stepped leader
  5. Streamers
  6. Connection
  7. Return stroke
  8. Multiple strokes
  9. Thunder
  10. Types and safety

Questions this course answers

Which particles commonly help separate charge in a thunderstorm?

Collisions among ice crystals, graupel, and supercooled water transfer charge, which airflow then separates.

What is a stepped leader?

The stepped leader is the mostly invisible descending channel that advances in jumps.

What creates the brilliant visible part of a typical cloud-to-ground flash?

The return stroke rapidly heats the connected channel and produces intense light.

Why do tall objects often launch streamers?

Charge concentrates at prominent conductive points, strengthening the local field.

Why is thunder heard after lightning is seen?

The light arrives almost immediately, while the pressure wave travels at the speed of sound.

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