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Lightning



Lightning, discharge of atmospheric electricity resulting in a flash of light in the sky. Flashes range from a few miles to about 100 mi (170 km) in length and typically have an energy of about 300 kWh and an electromotive force of 100 MV. Lightning results from a buildup of opposed electric charges, usually in clouds. The electrical nature of lightning was proved in 1752 by Benjamin Franklin.



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21st Century Webster's Family Encyclopedia21st Century Webster's Family Encyclopedia - Lange, Dorothea to Lilac