4 ms·
Lightning travels through a channel of ionized air which isn't a very good insulator at all.
by jascii 7y ago
Lightning travels through a channel of ionized air which isn't a very good insulator at all.
- yummypaint 7y agoIts odd the the old misconception of lightning as a simple electrostatic discharge still reigns. Electrical breakdown in air happens around 3 MV/meter. The potentials generated in clouds are very large but not remotely close to what would be required to reach the ground. Moreover, slow motion footage that can be found anywhere clearly shows branching tendrils descending very slowly, followed by the rapid return stroke after the line of plasma reaches the ground. I have heard that part of the mechanism that ionizes air and propagates the tendrils involves production of high intensity x-rays. I wonder if this could have health effects in itself.
- mhb 7y agoSure, but the air isn't ionized before the lightning ionizes it. In any case, it's moot since the lightning could bypass the rubber by going through the air next to it.