Chuck,
It depends on the part of the cloud. The most common thundercloud has one
negative pole and one positive pole. The ground-to-cloud bolt goes between
the negative part of the cloud and the positive charge sent out by objects
on the ground as the negative package approaches the ground.
Leaving what I learned in school and going further with help from a
magazine, I want to correct "up-down depends on balance in charge"
(obviously misinformed in school):
The cloud-to-ground thundercloud is a three-part cloud...
positive-negative-positive. A cloud-to-ground bolt is simply the exact
opposite. It goes between the upper positive charged part of the cloud down
to the negative ground. TOTALLY it's less common than the ground-to-cloud
since it needs to be closer to the ground (so they are more common in places
with higher altitude).
So, Nick.
Are you telling me that the much heavier positively charged ions
travel farther than the miniscule-weight electrons? I find that a
tad difficult to grasp. Of course, it's be *^*&^ years sends I had
physics (the class, not the tablet!).
a.
--
Allan Fish
Greenwood, IN
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
