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Question 2d) A storm cloud has -25 nC built up in a 1.0 km diameter spherical c...
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Question 2d)
A storm cloud has -25 nC built up in a 1.0 km diameter spherical charge centre located 10 km above the ground. This charge centre attracts a similar amount of positive charge that is spread on the ground below the ground. The charge centre and ground act as a charged capacitor, with a potential difference of V. In a lightning strike, the large electric field between these two charged regions (acting as electrodes) may ionise the air resulting in a conducting path between the cloud and ground, through which the 'capacitor' discharges.
If 12.5 C of charge is transferred from the cloud to the ground in a lightning strike, what fraction of the stored energy is dissipated?