During a thunderstorm, a lightning bolt carries current between a cloud and the ground below. If a lightning bolt transports a total charge of 80 C in 0.001 s, what is the magnitude of the average current?
A
80 C / .001 s = 80000 C/s = 80 kA
To find the magnitude of the average current, we can use the formula for current:
Current (I) = Charge (Q) / Time (t)
In this case, the charge transported by the lightning bolt is 80 C, and the time taken to transport this charge is 0.001 s.
Plugging in these values into the formula:
I = 80 C / 0.001 s
Simplifying the equation, we get:
I = 80,000 A
Therefore, the magnitude of the average current is 80,000 Amperes.