Have you ever seen a super bright light that makes the whole night sky look like a big light bulb? And then a loud noise makes you jump? That's lightning.
Lightning is special because it's super hot. The temperature of lightning is much higher than that of the sun's surface. And lightning can travel at a speed of 140,000 miles per hour.
Although lightning seems cool, it can be really dangerous. There are more than three million lightning strikes (袭击) every day in the world. They can knock down trees, cause power outages, and even damage houses. Sometimes, they can start fires or hurt people and animals.
However, the power of lightning has inspired (启发) many scientists to learn more about electricity and how it works. One famous scientist, Benjamin Franklin, discovered that lightning is a form of electricity, and invented the lightning rod (避雷针). A lighting rod is placed on top of tall buildings to reach up into the sky. When lightning wants to strike, it chooses the easiest path, which is the lightning rod. The rod then safely guides the lightning's energy down into the ground, stopping damage to the building. Nikola Tesla invented the Tesla Coil in 1891. It helps us understand how electricity works. Now some scientists are even studying how to use lightning's energy to power our houses one day!
So next time you see a lightning, remember that it's not just a show in the sky, but a powerful force of nature that scientists arc still learning from today!
