Q.

If air and cloud were good conductors of electricity, do you think lightning could occur?

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a

No, because charge separation cannot take place in the conductor.

b

Yes, because charges can nullify.

c

Yes, because charge combines in the conductor.

d

No, because charge separation can take place in the conductor.

answer is A.

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Detailed Solution

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If air and clouds were good conductors of electricity, lightning would not occur

Lightning is the result of a difference in electrical potential between two objects or regions, where one has an excess of positive charge and the other an excess of negative charge. This charge separation builds up within a cloud or between a cloud and the ground, and when the electrical potential difference becomes large enough, it causes a rapid discharge of electricity in the form of lightning.

In our atmosphere, air is generally a poor conductor of electricity. This is because air is composed mainly of molecules such as nitrogen and oxygen, which are electrical insulators. However, when there is a high enough electrical potential difference, the air can ionize and form a conductive path for the discharge to occur, resulting in a lightning bolt.

If air and clouds were good conductors of electricity, the charge separation necessary for lightning formation would likely not occur. The charges would disperse more evenly and readily throughout the atmosphere, preventing the buildup of sufficient electrical potential difference for lightning to take place. The electrical energy would likely dissipate more evenly and gradually rather than being discharged in a concentrated and powerful lightning strike.

Hence, the answer is "No, Because charge separation cannot take place in the conductor".

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