Electricity is the transfer of electrons between molecules; for example, a battery sends these tiny particles from its negative end to its positive end. If an electrical current does not have a sufficient "load," or job to perform, along its path then it short-circuits and makes a popping noise accompanied by intense heat (which was the electrical energy that went unused and had to be disposed of somehow). The earth and its atmosphere are essentially a gigantic battery; when a path is formed in the air which can carry a current, the battery shorts and we call the resulting flash lightning.
To answer the original question, however, it typically starts in a cloud, but 5-10% of lightning strikes start in the ground. It should also be noted that the above explanation is somewhat oversimplified. For more details, see the related links.
No, lightning can not start from the ground, it forms inbetween or in a cloud and starts coming down when its closer to the ground there is a charge that causes it to also start coming up from the ground to meet the first part, the part coming up from the ground comes much slower though. If there is a flicker that is just the upward stroke repeating the process.
Static discharge is causes the spark that is seen when electricity in a thunderhead discharges. The most common name for this type of spark or discharge is lightening.
Yes, lightning can strike from the ground up. This phenomenon, known as a "ground-to-cloud" lightning strike, occurs when an upward lightning discharge is triggered by a tall object such as a building or a lightning rod.
79.25..discovery channel said that 35 million out of every 44 million hit ground so that's what it works out to be.
The lightning has no path to ground.
Lightning typically travels from the clouds to the ground. It is formed when negative charges accumulate in the bottom of the cloud and positive charges build up on the ground, creating an electrical discharge.
Lightning typically starts from the clouds and travels towards the ground.
There are three types of lightening, There is Ground-to-cloud, Cloud-to-ground and cloud-to-cloud.
There are many types of lightning STREAMERS that start a lightning strike. There are 3 basic places where streamers will originate from. They can come from a cloud to the ground or the ground to a cloud or from cloud to cloud. So your teacher was correct. But not always from the ground.
lightning can start a muck fire if there is a natural resource in the ground where it strikes
The lightning rods redirected the electricity into the ground. That way it didn't hit the house and start a fire.
Static discharge is causes the spark that is seen when electricity in a thunderhead discharges. The most common name for this type of spark or discharge is lightening.
Yes, lightning typically travels from the ground up.
No, lightning does not come up from the ground during a thunderstorm. Lightning typically originates from the clouds and strikes downward towards the ground.
Lightning typically strikes from the sky down to the ground.
Lightning can appear to strike from the ground up due to a phenomenon called a "positive lightning strike." This occurs when a positive charge builds up on the ground, attracting the negatively charged lightning bolt. The bolt then appears to travel upward from the ground to the cloud.
because (fork lightning in particular) lightning starts on the ground!
No, lightning does not always strike the ground. Lightning can also strike other objects such as trees, buildings, or even other clouds.