Question

How does electric discharge in lightning occur if air is a bad conductor?

Answer 1

Hint: The phenomenon of lightning is first explained by Benjamin Franklin. He explained that the lighting occurs through static electric discharge. Static electricity is defined as the total charge accumulated due to the friction in the matter and it will not flow. This phenomenon is what allows the electric charge to be discharged in lightning even if the air is a poor conductor of electricity. Let us see how this works.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
Lightning usually occurs when the weather becomes cool and is about to rain. When the temperature becomes low the water droplets which are stored in the clouds will start to form ice crystals in the clouds. These ice crystals will rub against each other and this, in turn, generates a static charge in the clouds. The positive charge which is lighter in weight will move towards the upper end of the clouds and the negative charge which is heavier will move towards the lower end of the cloud. The Earth’s ground on the other hand acts like a large surface covered with a positive charge. We know that positive and negative charges (opposite charges) attract each other. But there will be air present in between the earth and cloud. Air being a bad conductor resists this charge flow. But after a particular limit, the charge accumulation becomes enormously large so that after the discharge occurs. This discharge occurs in a very small time. This process is called the electric discharge. This enormous amount of charge flow releases heat and light.

Note:
Hence we can say that lightning contains an enormous amount of current. It is not safe for any living beings to stand outside. It is necessary to take some precautions during this lightning. We should always move quickly into a home or vehicle when lightning occurs. Even at home we should not touch any electrical appliances. Mostly we should avoid being in open flats.