How Does Potential Difference Affect Potential Energy in a Lightning Bolt?

Thread starter twigthemoogli
Start date Feb 11, 2012
Tags

Charge Magnitude

AI Thread Summary

The potential difference between a storm cloud and the ground is 2.13 × 10^8 V. A bolt carrying a charge of 5 C falls from the cloud to Earth. The change in potential energy can be calculated using the formula: potential energy (J) = potential difference (V) × charge (C). Therefore, the change in potential energy is 2.13 × 10^8 V multiplied by 5 C, resulting in a significant energy transfer. This illustrates the relationship between potential difference and potential energy in a lightning bolt.

Feb 11, 2012

twigthemoogli

Homework Statement

The potential diﬀerence between a storm
cloud and the ground is 2.13 × 10
8
V.
If a bolt carrying 5 C falls from a cloud to
Earth, what is the magnitude of the change of
potential energy of the charge?
Answer in units of J

Homework Equations

2.13*108
C=5

The Attempt at a Solution

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Feb 11, 2012

wukunlin

Gold Member

hint: the unit "volts" in SI units is "Joules per Coulomb"

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