LIGHTNING Andrew Johnson Vu Nguyen Jenny Thang Gabrielle

LIGHTNING Andrew Johnson Vu Nguyen Jenny Thang Gabrielle Gold Nikki Keener

What is Lightning? � � � Lightning is an enormous electrostatic discharge between clouds and the ground, other clouds, or within a cloud. Negative charges form towards the base of a cloud while positive charges form at the crown. The same happens in the ground or other clouds. Physics 1010

Types of Lightning � Ground to Cloud � Most typical � Clouds form negative charge at base � Ground form positive charge to balance out Physics 1010

Types of Lightning � Cloud to Cloud � Similar to Ground to cloud � Also known as intracloud lightning Physics 1010

Types of Lightning � Ball Lightning � Orbs that float near the ground � Only a few centimeters in diameter � Only last a few seconds Physics 1010

Types of Lightning � Lightning also occurs in the upper atmosphere, above storms � Also � � known as sprites Blue jets are blue energy that bursts out of the thunderstorm Lightning in the ionosphere � Known as elves � Glowing discs � Can be up to 300 miles in diameter � Only lasts for a thousandth of a second Physics 1010

Effects of Lightning � Most lightning strikes on objects result in fire � up to 50, 000 degrees F � Higher voltage than typical household appliances � Invention of the lighting rod by Ben Franklin � Beginning of the alternative path on all houses to prevent power surges Physics 1010

Tesla Coils � Invented by Nikola Tesla � Used for a wide range of things � Radio transmission � X-ray generation � Helping in current experiments Physics 1010

Sources � http: //www. lightninglab. org/concept/index. html � http: //www. mnn. com/earth-matters/translatinguncle-sam/stories/types-of-lightning � http: //library. thinkquest. org/03 oct/00758/en/disa ster/lightning/physics. html Physics 1010