In a thunderstorm, lightning can transfer more than 1020 electrons in a single s

Question

In a thunderstorm, lightning can transfer more than 1020 electrons in a single strike. Approximating a storm cloud over the earth as a parallel plate capacitor, where the distance between the cloud and earth was 1.6 km and the cloud had a circular area over the earth with radius of 1.1 km, what was the potential difference between the earth and the cloud if the charge over this "capacitor" was from 1020 electrons? Assume that no rain has begun to fall and there is only air between the cloud and the earth.

Explanation / Answer

Lets calculate the capacitance of cloud,

C = eo A/d =8.85*10-12*pi*1100*1100/1600 = 2.1*10-8 F

now charge, Q=CV

Q=1020*1.6*10-19 Because charge of 1 electron is1.6*10-19

so potential difference, V=Q/C = 1020*1.6*10-19/[2.1*10-8 ] = 7.77* 10-9 V

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