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A lightning strike transfers 1.0 x 10^20 electrons from a cloud to the ground in 2.0 ms, with each electron carrying a charge of magnitude 1.60 x 10^-19 C. What is the magnitude of the average current?
A8.0 kA
B0.80 kA
C80 kA
D1.6 kA
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. 8.0 kA
1. Total charge magnitude: deltaQ = n x e = (1.0 x 10^20)(1.60 x 10^-19 C) = 16.0 C.
2. Time interval: deltat = 2.0 x 10^-3 s.
3. Average current magnitude: I = deltaQ / deltat = 16.0 C / (2.0 x 10^-3 s) = 8000 A = 8.0 kA.
4. 80 kA and 0.80 kA are off by a factor of ten from a decimal slip in the exponent.
_Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 19 "Electrical Circuits", section Current in a Lightning Strike_
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