Question

What are the effects of lightning?

Answer 1

EFFECTS OF LIGHTNING:

• visual effects (flash): caused by the Townsend avalanche mechanism
• acoustic effects: caused by the propagation of a shock wave (rise in pressure) originating in the discharge path; this effect is perceptible up to a range of around 10 km
• thermal effect: heat generated by the Joule effect in the ionised channel
• electrodynamic effects: these are the mechanical forces applied to the conductors placed in a magnetic field created by the high voltage circulation. They may result in deformations
• electrochemical effects: these relatively minor effects consist in the form of electrolytic decomposition in accordance with Faraday’s law – induction effects: in a varying electromagnetic field, each conductor becomes the seat of an induced current
• effects on a living being (human or animal): the passage of a transient current of a certain r.m.s value is sufficient to incur risks of electrocution by heart attack or respiratory failure, together with the risk of burns.