Australian physicist develops theory that explains why lightning doesn't strike in a straight line

It is possible that, at some point in your life, you have wondered why the rays have that zigzag shape, or irregular shapes like the roots of a plant. John Lowke, a researcher Australian, published in the Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics his theory developed at the University of South Australia (UniSA), which deals with the shape of rays. Apparently, the mystery has come to an end. Check out what the physicist said.

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Why doesn't lightning strike in a straight line?

Lightning is an electrical discharge of great intensity that occurs in the atmosphere, which can originate inside a cloud, in the space between clouds or between a cloud and the earth. It is generated from a difference between charges, which generates this electrical current of irregular shape.

In this sense, physicists had only two major doubts: what makes rays have a very characteristic, albeit irregular, shape? And furthermore, what causes the fraction linking the lightning to the cloud to remain dark?

Theorist John Lowke seems to have the answers. See below what his theory says.

How is lightning formed?

In the atmosphere, there are metastable oxygen molecules called delta singlets. They are formed from the collision between electrons and highly energized oxygen molecules.

After this collision, the electrons that "detach" from the oxygen electrosphere form a conductive stage, which initially it is luminous, redistributing the electric field and generating chained steps with energy variations. In this way, the zigzag format is generated. This phenomenon is called "lightning steps".

And why is the conducting column that connects lightning to the cloud not luminous?

This is due to electrons bonding to neutral oxygen molecules. As a result, they undergo immediate release by delta singlet molecules, and do not emit light.