Question
True or false? A lightning bolt is negatively charged.
Ask by Griffin Logan. in the United States
Feb 03,2025
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Tutor-Verified Answer
Answer
A lightning bolt is negatively charged.
Solution
True. A lightning bolt is primarily a discharge of electricity that occurs between regions of different electrical charges in the atmosphere. In most cases, the lower part of a thundercloud becomes negatively charged, while the ground or the upper parts of the cloud may be positively charged. When the potential difference becomes large enough, a lightning bolt occurs, typically carrying a negative charge from the cloud to the ground.
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Simplify this solution The Deep Dive
True! A lightning bolt is typically a discharge of electricity that occurs between a negatively charged cloud and the positively charged ground. The dramatic flashes we see during a storm are nature’s way of balancing these electric charges. Isn’t it fascinating how something so powerful comes from the invisible dance of electrons? While lightning is mostly negatively charged, there are instances where a positive lightning bolt can occur. These are less common but significantly more powerful, comprising up to 20% of all lightning strikes! So, while the norm is negatively charged, there’s a spark of truth that surprises even the experts!
