PHYS 0200

Lecture 8:
Lightning
Formation
Lecturer: Ms. Nalini Dookie
Note: Compulsory
Reading Material
on myelearning.
 Questions
1) What is an atom’s nucleus made of?

a) protons and neutrons

b) only protons
c) only neutrons
d) electrons
 Questions
2) Which of the following statements is not true?

a) Protons have a positive charge.

b) A nucleus has a positive charge.
c) Neutrons have no charge.
d) Neutrons have a negative charge.
e) Electrons have a negative charge.
 Questions
3) Fill in the blank space.

When a neutral object loses electrons, it

acquires a _______________ charge.

a. negative
b. positive
 Questions
4) Fill in the blank space.

Charges that are the same _______ each

other.

a. repel
b. attract
 Questions
5) What is the difference between a conductor and
an insulator?

a) An insulator allows electricity to flow through it

easily and a conductor does not
b) A conductor allows electricity to flow through it
easily and an insulator does not
c) An insulator is magnetic and a conductor is not
d) A conductor is magnetic and an insulator is not
 Charges
• Electric charge, q,
expresses the extent to
which an object has
more or fewer
electrons than protons.

• In atoms, the electron

carries a negative
charge and the proton
carries a positive
charge.
 Charges
• Electric charge, q, • The charge possessed
expresses the extent to by an object is often
which an object has expressed in Coulombs
more or fewer (C).
electrons than protons.

• In atoms, the electron

carries a negative
charge and the proton
carries a positive
charge.
 Lightning
Zeus with eagle and
lightning, Athenian red-
figure amphora C5th
B.C., Musée du Louvre

Jupiter, classical sculpture; in the Vatican

MuseumAlinari/Art Resource, New York
 Lightning
• Can lightning strike the same
place twice?

• Lightning is an example of
the effect of static electricity.
In order to answer this
question, you must
understand lightning
formation.
Learning Objective

• Explain the concepts involved in

lightning formation between the clouds
and the ground
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz_uYBx1G5s&feature=youtu.be
 Charges
• Electric charge, q, • The charge possessed
expresses the extent to by an object is often
which an object has expressed in Coulombs
more or fewer (C).
electrons than protons.

• In atoms, the electron

carries a negative
charge and the proton
carries a positive
charge.
 Lightning formation
1. Separation of charges
Clouds have tiny positively and
negatively charged particles.

During storms, we experience

turbulent winds.

These winds cause the positively

charged particles to separate from
the negatively charged particles.
 Lightning formation
The positively charged particles
build up at the top of the
clouds.

The negatively charged particles

build up at the bottom of the
clouds.

The clouds become polarized.

Lightning formation

Polarization

Polarization is the separation

of charges within an object.
 Lightning formation
2. Charging by induction

Now, the ground surface and all

things on the ground have
positive and negative charges.
 Lightning formation
2. Charging by induction

The negative charges/ electrons

in the earth are repelled by the
negative charges in the clouds.

The electrons get pushed Repulsion

deeper in the ground due the
repulsion experienced.
 Lightning formation
2. Charging by induction

The upper surface and the

objects on the ground become
positively charged.

This process is called charging

by induction.
 Lightning formation
Charging by induction

Charging by induction is a
process used to create a charge
on an object without any
contact with the charged
object.
 Lightning formation

Charges tend to concentrate on

the corners and ends of pointed
objects, such as the corners of
houses and the tip top of tree
tops.
 Lightning formation
3. Formation of a stepped leader and an
upward leader

The electrons in the clouds are attracted

to the positive charges in the ground.

Negative charges move from the clouds

to the ground (called a stepped leader).

Positive charges move up from the

ground surface/ object (called an upward
leader).
 Lightning formation
3. Formation of a stepped leader
and an upward leader

A path is made for an electric

current when the stepped leader
meets the upward leader.

When they meet, electrons are

conducted away from clouds.

This is seen as “lightning.”

Discussion
 Induced Charges
• It is possible for a body to obtain a charge without
contact from another charge.
• An induced charge occurs due to the redistribution of
charges within an object that occurs as a reaction to
the presence of a nearby charge.
Induced Charges
Induced Charges
What would the
charge distribution
inside the sphere look
like?
Induced Charges
Charging by Induction
 Lightning formation
3. Formation of a stepped leader and an
upward leader

The electrons in the clouds are attracted

to the positive charges in the ground.

Negative charges move from the clouds

to the ground (called a stepped leader).

Positive charges move up from the

ground surface/ object (called an upward
leader).
 Lightning formation

What causes the movement of

these charged particles?
 Coulomb’s Law
• If two charged particles are
brought near each other,
they exert a force on each
other.
• If particles have the same
charge, they repel each
other. The forces on each
particle is directed away
from the other particle.
• If particles have opposite
signs, they attract each
other. The forces on each
particle is directed towards
the other particle.
Coulomb’s Law

https://youtu.be/rYjo774UpHI
 Coulomb’s Law
• The force of attraction or repulsion is called an electrostatic force.
• According to Coulomb’s Law:
1 𝑞1 𝑞2 𝑞1 𝑞2
F= =𝑘
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 2 𝑟2
Where
F = the electrostatic force on particle 1 due to particle 2
𝜀0 = permittivity constant of free space – ability of material to allow an
electric field to permeate it = 8.85 × 10−12 𝐶 2 𝑁 −1 𝑚−2 (for free space)
k = electrostatic constant/ Coulomb’s constant = 8.99 × 109 𝑁 𝑚2 𝐶 −2
𝑞1 = charge of particle 1
𝑞2 = charge of particle 2
𝑟 = distance between particle 1 and particle 2
 Practice Question
• Two identical charges, q, are separated by a
distance, R cm.
a) Without changing the charges, they are moved
apart to a distance (5R). What happens to the
Electrostatic Force?

(i) F increases 1
𝐹∝ 2
(ii) F decreases 𝑟
(iii) F stays the same
As r increases, F should decrease.
 Practice Question
• Two identical charges, q, are separated by a distance, R
cm.
b) Describe how the "new" force compares to the original.

(i) F is 5 times the original force

(ii) F is 25 times the original force
1
(iii) F is the original force
5
1
(iv) F is the original force
25
Practice Question
• Two identical charges, each −3.10×10−5 C, are
separated by a distance, R, of 15.0 cm.
c) Determine the force of repulsion.
Practice Question
• Two identical charges, each −3.10×10−5 C, are
separated by a distance, R, of 75.0 cm.
d) Determine the force of repulsion.
Solution

Now 75 cm is 5 times 15 cm.

1
And 15.4 N is of 384 N.
25
 Practice Question
• Two identical charges, q, are separated by a distance, R
cm.
b) Describe how the "new" force compares to the original.

(i) F is 5 times the original force

(ii) F is 25 times the original force
1
(iii) F is the original force
5
1
(iv) F is the original force
25
Summary
• What are the concepts involved in
lightning formation between the clouds
and the ground?
• Separation of charges
• Charging by induction
• Formation of a stepped leader and an
upward leader
Summary
• What is Coulomb's Law?

How do we quantify
that force?
1 𝑞1 𝑞2 𝑞1 𝑞2
F= = 𝑘 2
4𝜋𝜀0 𝑟 2 𝑟
Summary

• You have learnt how lightning forms between the

clouds and the ground
 Lightning
• Can lightning strike the same place twice?
Reading Resources

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJubgrI0T0g
The End