QUARK UNIVERSITY

What is Lightning? Lightning is the result of the build up of electrostatic charge in clouds. Positive and negative charges separate, negative usually towards the bottom of the cloud, while positive goes to the top. After a certain amount of time, the negative charge leaps, connecting with either another cloud or even the ground. Relating to electric fields, the stronger the field, the more likely lightning is attracted to the ground. If field lines are closer together the field in that area is stronger and plausibility of a lightning strike is higher. The electrical discharge from a cloud will travel the path of least resistance. In the case of hitting the ground, the strike takes a series of steps to develop. At the bottom of the cloud, where the negatively charged parts hover, a “stepped ladder” forms. This is what gives lightning its forked look. As this charge starts to head down towards the ground, it branches out, like a tree branch. As it gets closer, the negative charge b...

Direct Strike A person struck directly by lightning becomes a part of the main lightning discharge channel. Most often, direct strikes occur to victims who are in open areas. Direct strikes are not as common as the other ways people are struck by lightning, but they are potentially the most deadly. In most direct strikes, a portion of the current moves along and just over the skin surface (called flashover) and a portion of the current moves through the body–usually through the cardiovascular and/or nervous systems. The heat produced when lightning moves over the skin can produce burns, but the current moving through the body is of greatest concern. While the ability to survive any lightning strike is related to immediate medical attention, the amount of current moving through the body is also a factor. Side Flash A side flash (also called a side splash) occurs when lightning strikes a taller object near the victim and a portion of the current jumps from taller object to th...

The world is a big, mysterious place, where sometimes facts defy logic. Here are some mind-bending geography facts that might surprise you. 1. AFRICA IS IN A PRETTY CENTRAL LOCATION. Africa is the only continent that is in all four hemispheres: north, south, west, and east. It’s therefore also the only continent to have land on the prime meridian and the equator. 2. ALASKA IS BOTH THE WESTERNMOST AND EASTERNMOST STATE. Alaska is the westernmost and northernmost state in the United States, which makes a lot of sense when you look at a map. But more surprisingly, the state manages to be the easternmost state as well. Parts of Alaska are so far west that the state actually stretches into the eastern hemisphere. Longitude lines converge at the top and bottom of the globe, so Pochoni Point, Alaska, has the easternmost longitude of any point in the country. 3. THERE ARE THREE COUNTRIES THAT ARE COMPLETELY LANDLOCKED BY ANOTHER COUNTRY. Lesotho, San Marino, and Vatican City are th...

Few forces in nature are are impressive or frightening as a volcanic eruption. In an instant, from within the rumbling depths of the Earth, hot lava, steam, and even chunks of hot rock are spewed into the air, covering vast distances with fire and ash. And thanks to the efforts of geologists and Earth scientists over the course of many centuries, we have to come to understand a great deal about them. However, when it comes to the nomenclature of volcanoes, a point of confusion often arises. Again and again, one of the most common questions about volcanoes is, what is the difference between lava and magma? They are both molten rock, and are both associated with volcanism. So why the separate names? As it turns out, it all comes down to location. Earth’s Composition: As anyone with a basic knowledge of geology will tell you, the insides of the Earth are very hot. As a terrestrial planet, its interior is differentiated between a molten, metal core, and a mantle and crust composed ...

Here are a few events that can cause flood ing: Rains Each time there are more rains than the drainage system can take, there can be floods. Sometimes, there is heavy rain for a very short period that result in floods. In other times, there may be light rain for many days and weeks and can also result in floods. River overflow Rivers can overflow their banks to cause flooding. This happens when there is more water upstream than usual, and as it flows downstream to the adjacent low-lying areas (also called a floodplain), there is a burst and water gets into the land. Strong winds in coastal areas Sea water can be carried by massive winds and hurricanes onto dry coastal lands and cause flooding. Sometimes this is made worse if the winds carry rains themselves. Sometimes water from the sea resulting from a tsunami can flow inland to cause damage. Dam breaking   (raptured dam or levee) ( Embankments, known as levees, are built along the side of a river and are used to prevent h...