Lightning bolt electrons problem

Thread starter wyclefchick
Start date Feb 10, 2008
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Bolt Electrons Lightning

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A strong lightning bolt transfers approximately 25 coulombs of charge to Earth. To calculate the number of electrons transferred, the formula used is 25 C divided by the charge of one electron, which is 1.60E-19 coulombs. The calculation yields 1.5625E+20 electrons, not 1.5625E-18 as initially stated. The discrepancy arose from a potential calculator error in entering the exponent. The correct answer is indeed around 1.6E+20 electrons.

Feb 10, 2008

wyclefchick

A strong lightning bolt transfers about 25 C to Earth. How many electrons are transferred?

1 electrons = 1.60E-19

so.. 25 / 1.60 E -19 = 1.5625E-18 electrons

but the answer that my teacher gave us is 1.6 E 20 electrons

what did i do wrong?

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Feb 10, 2008

TVP45

Caclculator error. Watch how you enter E-19.

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