Question 12 — Explain the process that causes - Questions at the end of the chapter - Chapter 6 Class 8 - Pressure, Winds, Storms, and Cyclones (Curiosity)

Last updated at June 17, 2026 by

Q 12
Question

Explain the process that causes lightning.

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Answer
Lightning is a sudden flow of charges when the air's insulation breaks down.

Explanation

  • Strong up-and-down winds rub ice particles and water droplets, charging them.
  • Positive charges gather at the top of the cloud, negative charges at the bottom.
  • Normally air keeps these apart, but a large build-up breaks down its insulation.
  • The charges suddenly flow, giving a bright flash — lightning — within a cloud, between clouds, or between a cloud and the ground.
Charge build-up breaks air's insulation, and the sudden flow of charge is lightning.
← Back to concept: 6.5 Storms, Thunderstorms, and Lightning
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