A lightning discharge between clouds during a thunderstorm is of 30 C. The time of the discharge is 10 msec. Determine the average lighting current:

Lightning:-

The visible discharge of electricity occurs when a region of a cloud acquires an excess electrical charge (either positive or negative) that is sufficient to break down the resistance of air.

Current is a measure of the flow of electric charge over time.

It is defined as   \(I = \frac{{dq}}{{dt}}\)

where q = Charge

t = Time

I = Current

Calculation:

Given:

q = 30 C

 t = 10 msec

\(I = \frac{{dq}}{{dt}}\)

\(I = \frac{{30}}{{10 \times {{10}^{ - 3}}}}\)

I = 3 × 10³ A

I = 3 kA.