Lightning happens when there’s a big electrical charge between clouds and the ground. Imagine you’re wearing a wool sweater on a cold day, and your hair stands up, that’s static electricity. In thunderstorms, clouds get really charged up, like giant balls of energy. When the charge gets too strong, it jumps from the cloud to the ground in a flash, that's lightning! Sometimes, you can see it hit right next to you or even strike a tree.
Examples
- A lightning bolt strikes a tree near your house during a summer storm.
- You feel your hair stand up as you walk across a carpet and touch a doorknob, that's static electricity like lightning.
- Lightning hits a tall building instead of the ground next to it.
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See also
- What Causes the ‘Spark’ of Lightning?
- What Causes ‘Static’ on the Radio When It Rains?
- What Causes the ‘Flash’ of a Lightning Strike?
- What Causes ‘Thunder’ and How Is It Related to Lightning?
- What Causes ‘Thunder’ and How Is It Different From Lightning?
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