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What is a thunderstorm?

Thunder and lightning can be exciting and sometimes a little scary but what is a thunderstorm?

In this article you can learn:

  • What causes thunder and lightning
  • What static electricity is
  • Different types of lightning, like sheet or ball lightning

This resource is suitable for weather topics for primary school learners.

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Video - What is a thunderstorm?

Watch this video to learn about thunder, lightning and static electricity.

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Where do thunderstorms come from?

  1. Thunderstorms start inside a cloud.
  2. Bits of ice move up and down and bump into each other inside the cloud.
  3. This builds up an electric charge.
  4. If the charge builds up enough it can suddenly flow as a massive electrical current between the cloud and the ground, or between clouds. We see this as a really big spark and it's what we call lightning.
  5. When lightning happens, it heats the air to around 10,000掳颁.
  6. The air heats up so quickly that it suddenly expands creating a shock wave, a huge vibration in the air, that we hear as thunder.

Lightning comes from an electrical charge. Want to learn more about electricity? What is electricity?

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Real life examples of lightning

This slideshow shows photographs of different types of lightning:

  • sheet lightning
  • fork lightning
  • ball lightning
Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 3, Sheet lightning in a cloudy sky, Sheet lightning Sheet lightning happens when an electrical charge builds up inside a cloud and flows from one cloud to another. It is a bright flash that fills the sky.
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Key words

Keys words about thunder and lightning

  • thunder - A shock wave, a huge vibration in the air, that we hear as a loud rumbling sound.
  • lightning - A bright light in the sky. It is caused by so much static electricity building up inside a cloud that giant spark of electricity flows between the cloud and the ground or between clouds.
  • static electricity - When two different materials rub against each other and they become electrically charged. For example, rubbing a balloon on your head or bits of ice bumping together inside a cloud.
  • shock - When an electrical current flows through someone鈥檚 body.
  • shock wave - A sudden burst of energy that moves out in waves, shaking the air around it.
  • sheet lightning - Lightning which flows between clouds and lights up the sky.
  • fork lightning - Jagged lightning with flows between a cloud and the ground.
  • ball lightning - This is a very rare and unusual type of lightning. It is lightning in the form of a glowing electric ball.
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Test your knowledge

Quiz

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Challenge

Challenge

Create static electricity with a balloon.

Thunder and lightning are caused by static electricity - when two different materials rub against each other.

Try your own static electricity experiment at home or in the classroom.

You will need:

  • a balloon
  • a dry cloth

What to do:

  1. Rub the surface of the inflated balloon with a piece of cloth for about 40 seconds.
  2. Hold the balloon above your head (not touching) and watch your hair stick to it. This is caused by static electricity.
A child's hair sticking to a balloon because of static electricity
Image caption,
Static electricity can cause your hair to stick to a balloon. Try it for yourself!
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