Question

The lower portion of clouds are negatively charged, what effect would it have on the Earth?

• A. Attract the positive charges to the surface, and cause them to accumulate
• B. Attract the negative charges to the surface, and cause them to accumulate
• C. Both A and B
• D. None of these

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Attract the positive charges to the surface, and cause them to accumulate

When lightning strikes the Earth, it is because there is a build-up of negative charges at the bottom of the cloud and positive charges at the ground surface. This is charging by induction. The negative charges attract the opposite (positive) charges towards them.