Lightning Strong winds and collisions between water droplets and clouds cause electrons to be transferred and a charge to occur Lower parts of clouds are negatively charged Upper parts are positively charged

Lightning The large negative charge pushes away negative charges in the earth = Positive charge Giant discharge = Lightning heats air to 33000 degrees Celcius (hotter than sun) Heat causes air to expand rapidly Air molecules collide and produce thunder

Lightning Rods A rod attached to a house that is connected to a buried cable or rod If lightning strikes it will drain off into the ground without creating a fire in the house Invented by Ben Franklin