Lightning
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lightning is a powerful electrical discharge produced during a thunderstorm. The electric current is very hot and causes thunder. Sometimes it happens between clouds, sometimes (in the rain) it goes from cloud to ground.
[edit] Facts and trivia
- Nearly 2000 people are struck by lightning each year around the world - about a quarter of these are killed.
- A bolt of lightning can reach 28,000 degrees celsius (50,000 degrees Fahrenheit)
- The Empire State Building is struck by lightning about 100 times each year, and was once struck 15 times in 15 minutes.
- The chance of a person living in the USA being struck by lightning is about 1 in 280,000.
Benjamin Franklin was fascinated by lightning and its properties. His curiosity in lightning led to breakthrough discoveries, many which are still in practice to this day. It is caused by static charges mainly positive and negative opposite charges coming and repeling each other.