What is lightning?
Q: What is lightning?
A: Lightning is a very powerful electrical discharge made during a thunderstorm.
Q: What causes thunder during a thunderstorm?
A: The electric current from lightning makes the air very hot. The suddenly heated air expands very quickly, which causes thunder.
Q: Does lightning only happen between clouds?
A: No, sometimes (in the rain) lightning goes from cloud to ground.
Q: How many people are struck by lightning each year?
A: Around 2000 people are struck by lightning each year.
Q: How many lightning bolts strike the Earth every second?
A: About 50 to 100 lightning bolts strike the Earth every second.
Q: Which famous building has been hit by lightning as many as 500 times a year?
A: The Empire State Building has been hit by lightning as many as 500 times a year.
Q: How can people make and study lightning?
A: People can make and study lightning with a Tesla coil or a Van de Graaff Generator.
