Question

What are the forms of energy into which the electrical energy of the atmosphere is dissipated during a lightning?
(Hint: The earth has an electric field of about 100 Vm⁻¹ at its surface in the downward direction, corresponding to a surface charge density = −10⁻⁹ C m⁻². Due to the slight conductivity of the atmosphere up to about 50 km (beyond which it is good conductor), about + 1800 C is pumped every second into the earth as a whole. The earth, however, does not get discharged since thunderstorms and lightning occurring continually all over the globe pump an equal amount of negative charge on the earth.)

Answer 1

During lightning and thunderstorm, light energy, heat energy, and sound energy are dissipated in the atmosphere.