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What causes lightning?

NathanKenney

Entry posted by NathanKenney

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So, everyone has seen lighting, and most of us even know what it is. But how does it work? Where does it come from? It all starts when charges build up in clouds. We don't know exactly why this happens, but usually the bottom part of a cloud becomes positively charged, and the top becomes negatively charged, and after enough negative charge builds up, the electrons will jump to the other side of the cloud to stay in equilibrium with the positive side, creating what we all know as lightning. The positive charges at the bottom push away the negative charges, and they are attracted to the neutrally charged ground, which is what actually pulls the lightning down to the earth.

 

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eclark

eclark 0

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I never knew exactly how lightning worked. That's really cool!

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