The reason for lightning zigzags across the sky has puzzled scientists for decades, but the answer lies in the formation of a more energetic state of oxygen
A mystery that has baffled scientists for the past 50 years may finally be unraveled: why lightning zigzags when it strikes. The discovery was made by a scientist from the University of South Australia and was published in an article which also reveals how the phenomenon travels for kilometres.
The answer, given by physicist John Lowke, lies in a different oxygen molecule that forms during storms: delta-singlet oxygen. This variation of the element used in our breathing has a different configuration in its electrons which allows electricity to be conducted through the air.
Lightning is formed by the difference in electrical potential between a cloud and the ground. In the process, the moving electrons collide with oxygen molecules, forming delta singlets.
The zigzags formed by the rays, also called steps, are the result of the accumulation of these molecules and electrons. In the process, a short, highly conductive pitch is formed and the light we see is released.
Like lightning?
When lightning strikes, a handful of “leaders” emerge from the cloud and spread through the air until one of them encounters an object on the surface, generating an electrical discharge that travels at over 320,000 km/h. The leaders left behind are extinguished as the electric charge flows along the path formed by the leader that hit the ground first.
The leader climbs the steps, which light up for about a millionth of a second. Then, the brightness fades for about 50 millionths of a second until a new step forms at the end of the previous one. It is during this period that the accumulation of delta-singlet oxygen occurs.
This state of oxygen isn’t completely stable, but it lasts long enough to conduct electricity during a thunderstorm. The process proceeds until it reaches the floor, when the drain is released.
The agitated molecules created in the previous steps form a column towards the cloud. The entire column is therefore electrically conductive, with no need for an electric field and with little light emission.
Because matter?
For Lowke, understanding how spokes work is important protect people and benefits of its effects, especially with the increased incidence of severe storms due to climate change.
Even lightning rods may not be in sufficient quantity to protect buildings in a city. The development and use of new materials, such as aircraft composites, aiming for improved energy efficiency, also pose new challenges for the protection of these vehicles.
“The more we know about lightning, the better informed we are to think our built environment”, says Lowke.
Source: Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics Through: University of South Australia
Trending on Canaltech:
- Scientists reveal who was in lead coffins hidden at Notre Dame
- The 15 best movies of 2022
- Why don’t planes fly over the Pacific Ocean?
- The 10 best movies on Netflix in 2022
- Are ‘Galaxy Forever’ Shows Worth It?
- Embalming | How is the modern body conservation technique done?
+The best content in your email for free. Choose your favorite Terra newsletter. Click here!
Source: Terra
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
