Question

1)During a thunderstorm, a lightning "bolt" carries current between a cloud and the ground below. If a particular bolt carries a total charge of 39 C in 1.2 ms, what is the magnitude of the current?
A

How many electrons are involved in this process?
electrons

Answer 1

1) magnitude of the current will be given as ::

using an equation,             I = Q / t                                                                 { eq.1 }

where, Q = total charge = 39 C

t = time taken = 1.2 x 10^-3 sec

inserting these values in above eq.

I = (39 C) / (1.2 x 10^-3 sec)

I = 32500 A

Number of electrons which are involved in this process which given as ::

q = n e                                                                               { eq.2 }

where, e = charge on electron = -1.6 x 10^-19 C

inserting the values in eq.2,

(39 C) = n (-1.6 x 10^-19 C)

n = (39 C) / (-1.6 x 10^-19 C)

n = - 24.3 x 10¹⁹

n = - 2.43 x 10¹⁸