Question

We know that air is a poor conductor of electricity. Then how do the electric discharge take place during lightning? [3 MARKS]

Answer 1

Each point: 1 Mark

1. The positive charges collect near the upper edges of the ground and the negative charges accumulate near the lower edges of the clouds.
2. When the magnitude of the accumulated charges becomes very large, the air which is normally a poor conductor of electricity, is no longer able to resist their flow.
3. Negative and positive charges meet, producing streaks of bright light and sound. We see streaks as lightning.