Lightning is due to
The flow of charges between different parts of the cloud
The short-circuiting of charges between the upper and lower surfaces of the cloud
The collection of positively charged particles on the base and collection of negatively charged particles at the top of the cloud
The induction of positive charge on the ground below the negative charge at the base of the cloud
Answer is Wrong!
Answer is Right!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2024
– It is caused by the build-up of electric charge differences within cumulonimbus clouds (thunderclouds) or between the cloud and the ground.
– Charge separation within a cloud typically results in positive charges accumulating at the top and negative charges accumulating at the bottom, although complex charge distributions exist.
– When the potential difference between these regions (or between the cloud and ground) exceeds the dielectric strength of the air, an electrical breakdown occurs, creating a conductive channel.
– The lightning strike is the rapid flow of electric charge (electrons and ions) through this channel. This discharge can happen within the cloud (intra-cloud lightning), between clouds (inter-cloud lightning), or between the cloud and the ground (cloud-to-ground lightning).
– Option B describes the rapid discharge (“short-circuiting”) between upper and lower charged regions within a cloud, which is a common type of lightning (intra-cloud lightning). While option A is also a flow of charges, B is more specific about the location and uses the term “short-circuiting” which captures the rapid discharge aspect. Option C describes the cause (charge separation) but gets the common polarity wrong (usually positive at top, negative at bottom). Option D describes ground charge induction, a condition for ground strikes, not the general cause of lightning.