Understanding Lightning Formation

Understanding Lightning Formation

Learning Objectives

• the conditions necessary for lightning to occur within a thunderstorm. 
• the role of charge separation and electric fields in the development of lightning. 
• the importance of ice, hail, and graupel in the lightning formation process. 
• the electric field within a thunderstorm can lead to lightning strikes. 
• the process by which lightning develops between the cloud and the ground. 
• the factors that influence where lightning may strike.

What do you already know about lightning formation?

Conditions for Lightning

Thunderstorm, Updraft, Downdraft

Charge Separation

Graupel, Water droplets, Electrons transfer

Field Generation

Electric field, Charge separation

Development of Lightning Between Cloud and Ground

Stepped Leader, Streamer, Lightning strike

Factors Influencing Lightning Strikes

Tall objects, Charge accumulation, Unpredictable strikes

Definition List

Thunderstorm: a storm with thunder and lightning, typically with heavy rain or hail. 

Updraft: an upward current or draft of air, often within a thunderstorm, contributing to the formation of clouds and precipitation. 

Downdraft: a downward current or draft of air, often in a thunderstorm, contributing to the transportation of hail and ice downward. 

Graupel: soft hail or snow pellets formed when supercooled water droplets coat a snowflake, becoming a pellet of ice. 

Electric Field: a region around a charged particle or object within which a force would be exerted on other charged particles or objects.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.