Do lightning bolts come down in a straight line?

Lightning basically tries to find the path of least resistance as it travels down to the ground. But this is not always a straight line because air is not a perfect mixture. There are fluctuations in temperature, humidity, pollutants, dust particles, etc. in the air, and so the resistance varies.

Why does lightning go down instead of up?

Appears that the reason is that when cloud-to-ground strike approaches the ground, the presence of opposite charges on the ground enhances the strength of the electric field and the “downward leader” strike creates bridge for the “return stroke”; this per the wiki page for Lightning.

What makes lightning strike upwards?

Upward triggered lightning usually occurs in response to a natural lightning flash, but on rare occasions can be “self-triggered”—usually in winter storms with strong winds. Lightning can also be triggered by aircraft flying through strong electric fields. If the plane is below the cloud, then a CG flash could result.

Does every lightning bolt hit the ground?

No, lightning does not always strike the ground. In reality, there are three main kinds of lightning in nature, which are distinguishable on the basis of where they occur. The lightning on the ground is seen in the case of cloud to ground lightning.

What happens when lightning hits a house?

If the electricity from a lightning strike is conducted by a home’s gutters, windows, concrete floors, and other exterior conductive materials, it can jump to the home’s electrical system. A direct hit or one nearby can cause an explosive surge that will destroy the wires.

Why is a lightning bolt crooked?

The propagation of the lightning channel follows a path of the least resistance, which is not a straight but a zig-zag line because impurity or moisture in the atmosphere causes the air to be ionized in different directions.

Where does lightning go when it hits the ground?

The electrons flowing from the cloud through the lightning bolt end up in the ground, but with an energy only slightly greater than ambient. They will presumably flow into the surrounding area until the potential difference around the point of strike falls to effectively zero.

Can lightning go through a car?

Myth: Rubber tires on a car protect you from lightning by insulating you from the ground. Fact: Most cars are safe from lightning, but it is the metal roof and metal sides that protect you, NOT the rubber tires.