Earth as a Capacitor: Lightning & Rain

[shivakumar06]

dear sir
the charge on clouds and ground can be different and this causes lightning due rain only. i want to know more about the process that causes it

 

[Chronos]

Clouds become charged by rubbing against one another, not unlike rubbing a glass rod with a silk cloth. When the charge becomes sufficiently disparate you can have cloud to cloud, or cloud to ground electrical discharges [i.e., lightning].

 

[Dotini]

dear sir
the charge on clouds and ground can be different and this causes lightning due rain only. i want to know more about the process that causes it

Go ahead and read All About Lightning, by Martin Uman. Only $6.95 from Dover.

 

[Simon Bridge]

shivakumar, you "want to know" all about all kinds of neat subjects. So do we all.

That's a healthy curiosity, and good to see, however the subjects tend to get quite big so it is difficult to know how best to help you.

The way to get best value from these forums is to read about the subjects oneself and then ask questions about it where you get stuck. The questions are a way we can narrow down our replies to things that will be helpful.

 

[pmacias]

Dear sir,

Thank you for your interest in the process of lightning during rain. The phenomenon of lightning during rain is a result of the Earth acting as a capacitor. A capacitor is an electrical component that can store and release electrical energy. In this case, the Earth's surface and the clouds act as the two plates of a capacitor, with the air in between acting as the dielectric material.

During a thunderstorm, the lower portion of the clouds becomes negatively charged, while the Earth's surface becomes positively charged. This charge separation creates an electric field between the clouds and the ground. As the electric field becomes stronger, it can overcome the insulating properties of the air and cause a discharge of electricity, resulting in lightning.

Rain plays a crucial role in this process by providing a pathway for the electric current to flow from the clouds to the ground. The raindrops act as conductors, allowing the electricity to pass through them and reach the ground. This is why we often see lightning strikes during rain.

The exact process of charge separation and lightning formation during rain is still not fully understood and is an area of ongoing research. Factors such as the type and size of raindrops, the strength of the electric field, and the presence of other atmospheric conditions can all affect the occurrence and intensity of lightning during rain.

I hope this explanation helps to clarify the process of lightning during rain. Thank you for your interest and curiosity in this fascinating natural phenomenon.

Sincerely,