Lightning

Lightning is electricity that has left the cloud. It travels fast enough to arrive before its own thunder, and leaves before anyone has finished saying “did you see that?”.^[1]

It is said that lightning never strikes the same place twice. This is correct: once lightning has struck a place, that place is no longer the same place but a place that has been struck by lightning. Lightning is therefore free to strike it again, as a different place, and frequently does.

Counting

The distance to lightning can be estimated by counting the seconds between the flash and the thunder; every three seconds is about one kilometre. Children who count faster are therefore closer to the storm, and are advised to slow down.^[2]

Bottling

Attempts to capture lightning in a bottle date back centuries. A committee formed in 1890 to agree a standard bottle has so far approved the cork. Work on the bottle is expected to begin once the cork has been tested, which requires a bottle.

Direction

Most lightning travels downward. A small amount travels upward, which meteorologists believe is lightning going back to see whether it left anything.

See also

• Thunder – always second
• Cloud – where it comes from
• Flagpole – a volunteer

References

1. Bolt, B. (2001). Before the Bang. Flash Books.
2. Count, C. (1996). “One, Two, Th—”. Storm Studies 3.
3. Bottle Committee (1890– ). Interim Report on the Cork.