Q 01/05

Roughly how hot does the air around a lightning flash get?

A) About 300,000 C

B) About 30,000 C

C) About 300 C

D) About 3,000 C

Answer · why

B) About 30,000 C

That is several times hotter than the surface of the Sun, which is why the channel glows brilliant blue-white.

Q 02/05

What causes thunder?

A) Clouds colliding with each other

B) Rain being vaporised in the cloud

C) Electrons hitting the ground

D) A shock wave from air heated and expanded by the discharge

Answer · why

D) A shock wave from air heated and expanded by the discharge

The rolling rumble comes from sound arriving from different parts of the long, branching channel at slightly different times.

Q 03/05

What is the scientific study of lightning called?

A) Fulminology

B) Ceraunology

C) Tonitrology

D) Electrometeorology

Answer · why

A) Fulminology

The World Meteorological Organization lists lightning as an Essential Climate Variable.

Q 04/05

Which of the three primary forms of lightning is the most common?

A) Cloud-to-ground

B) Ground-to-cloud

C) Intra-cloud

D) Cloud-to-cloud

Answer · why

C) Intra-cloud

Flashes within a single thundercloud far outnumber the strikes that reach the ground, which make up only about 25% worldwide.

Q 05/05

Cloud-to-ground lightning is started by what moving down from the cloud?

A) A stepped leader

B) A positive streamer

C) A return stroke

D) An anvil crawler

Answer · why

A) A stepped leader

It is met by an upward streamer from the ground; once they attach, the main discharge follows.