HOW AND WHY CURENT FLOWS IN ATMOSPHERE WHILE LIGHTNING? IS THERE ANY POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE IN ATMOSPHERE ,,IF YES WHAT CREATES POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE IN ATMOSPHERE OR AIR(WHAT ACTS LIKE A BATTERY IN AIR)?EXPLAIN IN DETAIL.

Expert Answer:

Causes of electric current formation during lightning:

Lightning is caused due to the static electric charges developed in a cloud when hot and cold air rub through each other.
The warm cloud contains water vapour and the cold air contains ice crystals.
The static electric charges are so situated that it makes the cloud analogical to a battery with the positive charge situated at the topper end of the cloud and the negative charges situated at the bottom of the cloud.
When the charge at the bottom gets strong enough, the cloud lets out energy.
The energy goes through the air. It goes to a place that has the opposite charge as unlike charges attract each other.
This lightning bolt of energy that is let out is called a leader stroke.
It can go from the cloud to the ground or from the cloud to another cloud.
When the main bolt or stroke goes back, up to the cloud, it makes a flash of lightning.
This is how an electric current is formed during the course of lightning.