Question

What causes lightning?

• A. Excessive electric charge in the atmosphere
• B. Increased chemical energy in the atmosphere
• C. Attraction between two oppositely charged clouds
• D. All of the above

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Attraction between two oppositely charged clouds

When a charged cloud passes over an uncharged cloud, the uncharged cloud obtains an opposite charge. Later when two oppositely charged clouds come close to each other they attract and strongly combine to produce large amounts of heat, light and sound thus causing lightning.