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Linking Up

Short answer: Inside thunderstorms, collisions between ice crystals, graupel (soft hail) and supercooled droplets in strong updrafts separate electric charge. Typically the upper cloud becomes positively charged and the middle to lower region negatively charged.

When the charge difference grows large enough, the air breaks down and a lightning discharge flashes within the cloud, between clouds, or to the ground. The channel heats the air to around 50,000 °F, and the sudden expansion makes thunder. The footage alternates storm clouds lit by lightning with a dish of metal balls in oil that line up into chains under high voltage, a demonstration of charges linking up, which I read as an exemplar, not lightning itself.

VideoWrite-up3 sources

In collections:Everyday Physics

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What should you know about Linking Up?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Ice and graupel collisions separate charge in storms.

    DD-302-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Charge separation)

  2. Thunder is air expanding from lightning's heat.

    DD-302-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit E (Thunder)

Video transcript: Linking Up: Storm Clouds Sort Charge Until the Air Gives Way

DID YOU KNOW? Lightning forms through a complex process within storm clouds that involves creating a separation of electric charges. Positively charged particles accumulate at the top while negatively charged particles gather at the bottom. When the difference in charge between the cloud and the ground or within the cloud itself becomes too great the electric potential breaks down the insulating properties of the air. This causes a rapid discharge of electricity resulting in a lightning bolt. The intense heat from the lightning causes the air to expand rapidly producing the accompanying thunder! NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 27.8s Reel ·

Video coming soonLinking Up · Instagram Reel
Linking Up: Storm Clouds Sort Charge Until the Air Gives Way Instagram Reel · · 27.8s

The write-up

Storm clouds sort charge until the air gives way. Lightning heats the air so fast it expands with a bang: thunder.

  1. Exhibit A

    Charge separation

    Collisions of ice, graupel and droplets separate charge in storms.

  2. Exhibit B

    Positive on top

    The upper cloud is typically positive and the lower region negative.

  3. Exhibit C

    Breakdown

    When the charge difference is large enough, the air breaks down.

  4. Exhibit D

    Where it strikes

    Lightning can flash in a cloud, between clouds or to the ground.

  5. Exhibit E

    Thunder

    The heated air expands suddenly, making thunder.

Questions people ask about Linking Up

What separates charge in storm clouds?

Strong updrafts drive it.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Charge separation) · NOAA NSSL: Severe Weather 101: Lightning; Wikipedia: Lightning

Which part of the cloud is usually positive?

The lower region is negative.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Positive on top) · NOAA NSSL: Severe Weather 101: Lightning; National Weather Service: Lightning Science overview

What happens when the charge difference grows large?

A discharge flashes.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Breakdown) · National Weather Service: Lightning Science overview

Where can lightning flash?

Most flashes stay in the clouds.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Where it strikes) · NOAA NSSL: Severe Weather 101: Lightning

What makes thunder?

The expansion is sudden.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Thunder) · NOAA NSSL: Severe Weather 101: Lightning; National Weather Service: Lightning Science overview

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. What separates charge in storm clouds?

    1. Collisions of ice, graupel and droplets
    2. Sunlight
    3. Wind on the ground
    4. Magnetism
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Collisions of ice, graupel and droplets Strong updrafts drive it. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Charge separation) · NOAA NSSL: Severe Weather 101: Lightning; Wikipedia: Lightning

  2. Which part of the cloud is usually positive?

    1. The top
    2. The bottom
    3. The middle only
    4. None
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. The top The lower region is negative. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Positive on top) · NOAA NSSL: Severe Weather 101: Lightning; National Weather Service: Lightning Science overview

  3. What happens when the charge difference grows large?

    1. The air breaks down
    2. The cloud freezes
    3. Rain stops
    4. The cloud vanishes
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. The air breaks down A discharge flashes. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Breakdown) · National Weather Service: Lightning Science overview

  4. Where can lightning flash?

    1. In clouds, between clouds or to ground
    2. Only to ground
    3. Only in space
    4. Only over oceans
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. In clouds, between clouds or to ground Most flashes stay in the clouds. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Where it strikes) · NOAA NSSL: Severe Weather 101: Lightning

  5. What makes thunder?

    1. Air expanding from lightning's heat
    2. Clouds colliding
    3. Rain hitting the ground
    4. Wind
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Air expanding from lightning's heat The expansion is sudden. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Thunder) · NOAA NSSL: Severe Weather 101: Lightning; National Weather Service: Lightning Science overview

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Linking Up." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-302, last updated Aug 17, 2024. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/linking-up/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/linking-up/ · Last updated

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Cite a single fact by its ID, for example DD-302-F01 → https://detailenjoyer.com/case/linking-up/#DD-302-F01

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