Bliksemstroom

Bliksemstroom refers to the electrical current that flows during a lightning strike. When a significant electrical potential difference builds up between a cloud and the ground, or between two clouds, a discharge occurs. This discharge is lightning, and the flow of charge during this event is known as bliksemstroom. The magnitude of bliksemstroom can be extremely high, typically ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of amperes. This intense current causes the rapid heating and expansion of the air along the lightning channel, producing the sound we perceive as thunder. The duration of a bliksemstroom event is very short, usually lasting only microseconds. However, the immense energy transfer can cause significant damage to objects struck by lightning, including fires, structural damage, and harm to living beings. Understanding bliksemstroom is crucial in fields such as meteorology, electrical engineering, and lightning protection.