Lightning occurs when there is a flow of electric charge (principally electrons) between the ground and a thundercloud. The maximum rate of charge flow in a lightning bolt is about 20,000 C/s, this lasts for 100 μs or less. How much charge flows between the ground and the cloud in this time? How many electrons flow during this time?
2E4 C/s * 1E-4 s = ? C
? C / 1.6E-19 C/e = ? e
To calculate the amount of charge that flows between the ground and the cloud during the lightning bolt, we can use the formula:
Charge = Rate of charge flow (C/s) × Time (s)
In this case, the rate of charge flow is given as 20,000 C/s and the time is 100 μs (which can be converted to seconds by dividing by 1,000,000).
Let's calculate the charge:
Charge = 20,000 C/s × (100 μs / 1,000,000) s
= 20,000 C/s × 0.0001 s
= 2 C
Therefore, 2 Coulombs of charge flow between the ground and the cloud during this time.
To calculate the number of electrons that flow during this time, we need to know the charge of a single electron.
One electron has a charge of approximately 1.6 × 10^-19 Coulombs.
Let's calculate the number of electrons:
Number of electrons = Charge / Charge of a single electron
Number of electrons = 2 C / (1.6 × 10^-19 C)
= 1.25 × 10^19 electrons
Therefore, approximately 1.25 × 10^19 electrons flow between the ground and the cloud during this time.
To calculate the charge that flows between the ground and the cloud during this time, we can use the formula:
Charge = Current x Time
Given that the maximum rate of charge flow is 20,000 C/s and the duration is 100 μs (which is 100 x 10^(-6) s), we can substitute these values into the formula:
Charge = 20,000 C/s * 100 x 10^(-6) s
Simplifying the equation, we find:
Charge = 2 C
So, the amount of charge that flows between the ground and the cloud during this time is 2 coulombs.
To calculate the number of electrons that flow during this time, we can use the fact that one coulomb is equal to the charge of approximately 6.242 x 10^18 electrons.
Thus, the number of electrons is calculated by multiplying the charge by the conversion factor:
Number of electrons = Charge x (6.242 x 10^18 electrons/C)
Substituting the value of the charge we calculated earlier, we find:
Number of electrons = 2 C x (6.242 x 10^18 electrons/C)
Simplifying the equation, we get:
Number of electrons = 12.484 x 10^18 electrons
Therefore, approximately 12.484 x 10^18 electrons flow during this time.