Question

Lightning was discovered by:
A) Ohm
B) Thomson
C) Franklin
D) Faraday

Answer 1

Hint: Charge produced during the lightning storm is due to the rubbing of the clouds. The speed of the light must be faster than the speed of the sound and this is the reason for the occurrence of the lightning before the thunder.

Complete step by step answer:
Lightning is a natural event we experience when it is about to rain. It is a powerful electrical discharge during a thunderstorm. This sudden electrical discharge causes the charged regions in the atmosphere to equalize themselves just for a while when it strikes an object in the ground.
The lightning is having the temperature of $27,{000^ \circ }C$. It was discovered by Benjamin Franklin.

$\therefore $ Lightning was discovered by Benjamin Franklin. We can say that option (C) is correct.

Additional information:
(i) There are three types of lightning based on the between which two systems occur.
*Intra-cloud lightning: This type of lightning is very common. It takes place between the charged regions of two clouds. In this case, we can see only the flash of light and no thunderstorm.
*Cloud to cloud lightning: This type of lightning occurs between one thundercloud and another. Cloud to cloud lightning generates the lightning bolt with multiple branches.
*Cloud to ground lightning: This type of lightning primarily originates in the thundercloud but terminates on an Earth surface. It can happen vice-versa too. This type of lightning is initiated by the stepped branch moving down from the cloud and it is negative in polarity.
(ii) Cloud to ground lightning is the most relatable one to us because it only reaches the earth's surface. It accounts for 25% of the total lightning. But it causes death and more threats to life and property on the earth.
(iii) Lightning originates when the wind updrafts and downdrafts take place in the atmosphere. This causes the separation of electric charges in clouds. Positive charges on the top and the negative charges at the bottom. The negative charges at the bottom keep on growing as a result. Therefore, the potential difference between the cloud and the ground increases.
(iv) When a breakdown at the bottom of the cloud occurs, the electrostatic discharge occurs. This is how lightning occurs.

Note:
Benjamin Franklin discovered the lightning is a result of electrical discharge by the “kite experiment”. A hole is created in the air due to the occurrence of the lightning. The hole created is called a Channel. After the lightning is gone the hole collapses. The sound you hear when the hole collapses is called Thunder.