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The process that causes a spark to occur when the discharge wand is close to the Van de Graaff generator is similar to the process that causes lightning to form. Use what you have learned about the tendency of potential energy to decrease to try to explain how lightning occurs.

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Answer:

Lighter, positively charged particles form at the top of the cloud. Heavier, negatively charged particles sink to the bottom of the cloud. When the positive and negative charges grow large enough, a giant spark - lightning - occurs between the two charges within the cloud.

Explanation:

Lighter, positively charged particles form at the top of the cloud. Heavier, negatively charged particles sink to the bottom of the cloud.

What is a generator?

In electricity generation, a generator is a device that converts motive power (mechanical energy) into electric power for use in an external circuit.

Lightning is an electric current. To make this electric current, a cloud is needed.

When the ground is hot, it heats the air above it. This warm air rises. As the air rises, water vapour cools and forms a cloud. When air continues to rise, the cloud gets bigger and bigger. In the tops of the clouds, the temperature is below freezing and the water vapour turns into ice.

Now, the cloud becomes a thundercloud. Lots of small bits of ice bump into each other as they move around. All these collisions cause a build-up of electrical charge.

Eventually, the whole cloud fills up with electrical charges. Lighter, positively charged particles form at the top of the cloud. Heavier, negatively charged particles sink to the bottom of the cloud.

When the positive and negative charges grow large enough, a giant spark - lightning - occurs between the two charges within the cloud. This is like a static electricity sparks you see, but much bigger.

Hence, the positive and negative charges grow large enough, that a giant spark - lightning - occurs between the two charges within the cloud.

Learn more about the generator here:

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