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Light Beyond the Bulb

Lightning Strikes Dubai


Lightning Strikes Dubai

Image Credit: Michael Shainblum

In massive storm clouds, the friction between particles composed of many atoms builds up a large separation of electric charge. This, in turn, creates voltages approaching 100 million volts. When the voltage becomes this large, it can cause an explosive electric discharge that heats the gas around it to more than ten thousand degrees, causing a bright glow observed as a lightning bolt. The heat from the lightning bolts also produces sound waves, causing the clap of thunder associated with lightning. The delay we experience between seeing lightning and hearing thunder is due to how much faster light can travel (300 million meters per second) compared to sound waves in air (300 meters per second).

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