Question

What is the reason for the lightning that we see?

• A. Accumulation of positive charge over Earth's crust.
• B.
  Accumulation of positive charge over the face of clouds facing Earth.
• C. Accumulated of equal charges over Earth and clouds.
• D. Charges acquired by the rain-drops.

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Accumulation of positive charge over the face of clouds facing Earth.
Earth is electrically neutral but the crust is negatively charged and interior of Earth is positively charged. In clouds we have negative charge over its upper face and positive charge over its lower face. So, Earth's surface and cloud's lower face have opposite charges and they face each other. When the charge over clouds crosses a threshold, the charge is transferred to Earth by the phenomena of lightning.