Random Facts About... Lightning
Lightning is a wonderful and breath-taking phenomenon to witness. At the same time it's one of the most dangerous and unpredictable demonstrations of power ever seen in nature. But how much do you really know about them? Below you'll find out some curious facts, known and unknown. 1. At this very moment there are about 1800 thunderstorms in the atmosphere. 2. Lightning bolts travel at speeds of up to 60,000 miles per second. 3. The temperature of a typical lightning bolt can reach 50,000 F degrees – that is 5 times greater than the temperature of the surface of the Sun. 4. The energy contained in a single lightning strike can power a 100 Watt light bulb for 90 days. 5. Ancient Greeks believed that when a lightning strike hit the sea a new pearl appeared. 6. The average length of a single lightning bolt is 2-3 miles. 7. You can hear thunder from about 12 miles from the starting point. 8. An average instance of lightning lasts about a quarter of a second ...