Daily Archives: September 2, 2025

Lightning is a huge electrical discharge, or spark, that results from vigorous motions in thunderstorms.

Storms are composed of ice crystals and liquid water droplets. Winds inside the storm cause particles to rub against one another, causing electrons to be stripped off, making the particles either negatively or positively charged. The charges get grouped in the cloud, often negatively charged near the bottom of the cloud and positively charged up high. This is an electric field, and because air is a good insulator, the electric fields become incredibly strong. Eventually a lightning bolt happens, and the flow of electrons neutralizes the electric field. Continue reading →