The current from the lightning pulse / ground fault spreads radially outwards from the point of entry into the earth. As it travels through the mass of the earth, it generates voltage that is proportional to the resistance of the earth mass. Earth is not a perfect conductor – it has resistance and may be considered as infinitely large resistor.
No, lightning does not always strike the ground. In reality, there are three main kinds of lightning in nature, which are distinguishable on the basis of where they occur. The lightning on the ground is seen in the case of cloud to ground lightning.
A common query we ran across in our research was “Does Lightning really not strike twice?”.
So after lightning strikes one place, it’s probably safe from another strike. In reality, lightning can and will strike the same place twice, whether it be during the same storm or even centuries later.
What happens when lightning strikes the ground?
When lightning strikes the ground or an object on the ground, the discharge occurs in and along the ground surface (not deep into the ground). This creates a dangerous and potentially deadly ground current near the lightning strike.
Here is what my research found. It actually does come from ground up typically a lightning stroke is caused by a step leader that breaks down the insulation of the air, when it reaches the ground the brilliant flash you see is the lightning discharge returning from the ground to its source although in rare cases you can have cloud to ground lightning.
Why does Lightning need to touch the ground?
You can follow the following steps to protect yourself and others during a storm: Do not stay outdoors when a thunderstorm has started. Always hurry back indoors. Staying safe indoors : Do not touch any electrical appliances or switches with wet hands, and preferably keep the heavy appliances switched off. Help Others: If other people are stranded or stuck outdoors, take them in and help them.
You might be asking “Where does Lightning come from the ground?”
The answer is both. Cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning comes from the sky down, but the part you see comes from the ground up. A typical cloud-to-ground flash lowers a path of negative electricity (that we cannot see) towards the ground in a series of spurts. Objects on the ground generally have a positive charge under a typical thunderstorm.
Why does Lightning want to go in the ground?
Heat doesn’t rise. Heat is the random movement of molecules and travels from hot to cold in all directions. Lightning isn’t heat. It’s plasma resulting from air being ionized and superheated by an electric charge jumping between cloud and ground or two clouds. Lightning doesn’t always go down.
This begs the inquiry “Does Lightning travel up or down?”
Lightning can travel both up and down. The stepped leader carries tons of negative charge. As it nears the ground, it induces enormous quantities of positive charge in the earth, especially at the tips of tall objects. Because opposites attract, the stepped leader and the negative charge at the ground reach towards each other and quickly meet.
Do lightning storms cause electrical damage?
Although lightning storms can be a sight to behold, they can also cause electrical damage to your home or business. In fact, the insurance industry estimates that around 6.5% of all property and casualty claims are related to lightning strikes.
Worldwide, 16 million lightning storms occur every year—2,000 of those storms are happening simultaneously at any given moment—and it’s more than just a spectacular natural light They’re Underrated and Unpredictable. Not restricted to thunderstorms, and lightning makes every thunderstorm a potential killer as well interesting too.
Also, what are the dangers of lightning?
“Lightning Down: A World War II Story of Survival, ” by Tom Writes Clavin, “He was still only twenty-two years old.” Surely, Joe Moser knew the danger of what he was doing, but he chose not to dwell on it. He went out every day and did his.
What happens when a line-to-ground fault occurs?
When a line-to-ground fault occurs, there will be a voltage sag until the protective switch gear operates. You have an excellent chance of totally destroying your computer and peripherals from a lightning strike! Now for the scary part… It’s not just the voltage swells from lightning that can damage sensitive electronics.
Why is ground current so dangerous?
This creates a dangerous and potentially deadly ground current near the lightning strike. Ground current is responsible for killing many farm animals on a yearly basis.