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Top Form
Teaching
 I C

.
Science Reading
Comprehension

Articles and
Questions

Copyright © 2017 by Regina Chustz

Top Form
Teaching
 THE SCIENCE OF LIGHTNING 1
leader, which is a series of negative
charges. As the stepped leader
approaches the ground, a positive
streamer will extend up for it
creating a channel and then a flash
of light is created from the return
stroke running from the ground to
the clouds. (2)

Bolts of lightning do not always

flash vertically. Most of the electrical
energy created from a thunderstorm
We have all seen those ominous
is dissipated within the clouds.
dark clouds that suddenly flash a
Lightning may flash horizontally
bright bolt of lightning through the
towards the positive particles of
sky, with a loud clap of thunder
another nearby cloud, hopping back
trailing close by. Thunderstorms are
and forth between the positive and
a common occurrence on our planet,
negative charges. (3)
thousands happening any given
minute, but much information is yet
As the air surrounding the lightning
to be discovered about this
bolt is heated, it causes the air to
mysterious light show. Scientists
expand faster than the speed of
continue to have unanswered
sound, squeezing the air and
questions about lightning because
forming a shock wave that we know
the process is so complex. It involves
as thunder. Since lightning bolts
an in depth knowledge of both
can create many short bursts,
physics and chemistry. (1)
multiple shock waves at various
altitudes are made, which reach
Lightning is an electric current that
your ears at different times, making
originates inside of a cloud, caused
a rumbling sound. (4)
by rapidly rising and falling air
currents. Ice and water droplets
Light travels at 186,291 miles per
move around inside the cloud,
second, which is much faster than
forming collisions and friction that
sound at 1,088 feet per second. This
cause the cloud to fill with both
explains why we always see a bolt of
positive and negative charges, each
lightning before we hear a rumble of
at opposite ends of the cloud. To
thunder. If you want an estimate as
generate a bolt of lightning, the
to how many miles away the
negative charges must gain enough
lightning struck, simply count the
power and pull towards the positive
seconds between the flash of light
charges on the ground. The negative
and the rumble of thunder and
charge from the cloud will send out
divide by 5. (5)
a feeler, best known as a stepped
© Top Form Teaching

SCIENCE READING COMPREHENSION

 THE SCIENCE OF LIGHTNING 1
Do not underestimate the speed and blind a camera lens. (6)
heat of lightning at 220,000 miles
per hour and 54,000 degrees Studying lightning is not easy, and it
Fahrenheit, respectively (five times can be very dangerous. In 2015,
hotter than the sun). The total lightning took the lives of 27 people.
electrical energy generated in a large During a thunderstorm, it is best to
thunderstorm is more than an remain indoors and stay off the
atomic bomb! When the negative roads, if possible. People on the road
charges from the clouds make a should remain in their cars and seek
connection with the positive charges shelter away from trees or other tall
from the ground, the amount of light objects, which are known to be good
generated is enough to temporarily conductors of electricity. (7)

1. Why do scientists continue to have so many unanswered questions about

lightning?

2. Explain what is lightning and how does it happen.

3. Why do we see lightning before we hear thunder?

4. How can we estimate the distance from where a bolt of lightning struck?

5. What makes the rumbling sound of thunder?

6. Why is studying lightning so dangerous?

7. What should you do to remain safe during a thunderstorm?

© Top Form Teaching

SCIENCE READING COMPREHENSION

 THE SCIENCE OF LIGHTNING 1
Do not underestimate the speed and blind a camera lens. (6)
heat of lightning at 220,000 miles
per hour and 54,000 degrees Studying lightning is not easy, and it
Fahrenheit, respectively (five times can be very dangerous. In 2015,
hotter than the sun). The total lightning took the lives of 27 people.
electrical energy generated in a large During a thunderstorm, it is best to
thunderstorm is more than an remain indoors and stay off the
atomic bomb! When the negative roads, if possible. People on the road
charges from the clouds make a should remain in their cars and seek
connection with the positive charges shelter away from trees or other tall
from the ground, the amount of light objects, which are known to be good
generated is enough to temporarily conductors of electricity. (7)

1. Why do scientists continue to have so many unanswered questions about

lightning? Explain what is lightning and how does it happen. Lightning is an
electric current that originates inside of a cloud, caused by rapidly rising and
falling air currents. To generate a bolt of lightning, the negative charges in the
cloud must gain enough power and pull towards the positive charges on the
ground. (2)
2. Why do we see lightning before we hear thunder? Light travels at 186,291
miles per second, which is much faster than sound at 1,088 feet per second.
This explains why we always see a bolt of lightning before we hear a rumble of
thunder. (5)
3. How can we estimate the distance from where a bolt of lightning struck? If you
want an estimate as to how many miles away the lightning struck, simply
count the seconds between the flash of light and the rumble of thunder and
divide by 5. (5)
4. What makes the rumbling sound of thunder? Since lightning bolts can create
many short bursts, multiple shock waves at various altitudes are made, which
reach your ears at different times, making a rumbling sound. (4)
5. Why is studying lightning so dangerous? The total electrical energy generated
in a large thunderstorm is more than an atomic bomb! When the negative
charges from the clouds make a connection with the positive charges from the
ground, the amount of light generated is enough to temporarily blind a
camera lens. (6)
6. What should you do to remain safe during a thunderstorm? It is best to
remain indoors and stay off the roads, if possible. People on the road should
remain in their cars and seek shelter away from trees or other tall objects. (7)

© Top Form Teaching

SCIENCE READING COMPREHENSION

 THE SCIENCE OF LIGHTNING 1
leader, which is a series of negative
charges. As the stepped leader
approaches the ground, a positive
streamer will extend up for it
creating a channel and then a flash
of light is created from the return
stroke running from the ground to
the clouds. (2)

Bolts of lightning do not always

flash vertically. Most of the electrical
energy created from a thunderstorm
We have all seen those ominous
is dissipated within the clouds.
dark clouds that suddenly flash a
Lightning may flash horizontally
bright bolt of lightning through the
towards the positive particles of
sky, with a loud clap of thunder
another nearby cloud, hopping back
trailing close by. Thunderstorms are
and forth between the positive and
a common occurrence on our planet,
negative charges. (3)
thousands happening any given
minute, but much information is yet
As the air surrounding the lightning
to be discovered about this
bolt is heated, it causes the air to
mysterious light show. Scientists
expand faster than the speed of
continue to have unanswered
sound, squeezing the air and
questions about lightning because
forming a shock wave that we know
the process is so complex. It involves
as thunder. Since lightning bolts
an in depth knowledge of both
can create many short bursts,
physics and chemistry. (1)
multiple shock waves at various
altitudes are made, which reach
Lightning is an electric current that
your ears at different times, making
originates inside of a cloud, caused
a rumbling sound. (4)
by rapidly rising and falling air
currents. Ice and water droplets
Light travels at 186,291 miles per
move around inside the cloud,
second, which is much faster than
forming collisions and friction that
sound at 1,088 feet per second. This
cause the cloud to fill with both
explains why we always see a bolt of
positive and negative charges, each
lightning before we hear a rumble of
at opposite ends of the cloud. To
thunder. If you want an estimate as
generate a bolt of lightning, the
to how many miles away the
negative charges must gain enough
lightning struck, simply count the
power and pull towards the positive
seconds between the flash of light
charges on the ground. The negative
and the rumble of thunder and
charge from the cloud will send out
divide by 5. (5)
a feeler, best known as a stepped
© Top Form Teaching

SCIENCE READING COMPREHENSION

 THE SCIENCE OF LIGHTNING 1
Do not underestimate the speed and blind a camera lens. (6)
heat of lightning at 220,000 miles
per hour and 54,000 degrees Studying lightning is not easy, and it
Fahrenheit, respectively (five times can be very dangerous. In 2015,
hotter than the sun). The total lightning took the lives of 27 people.
electrical energy generated in a large During a thunderstorm, it is best to
thunderstorm is more than an remain indoors and stay off the
atomic bomb! When the negative roads, if possible. People on the road
charges from the clouds make a should remain in their cars and seek
connection with the positive charges shelter away from trees or other tall
from the ground, the amount of light objects, which are known to be good
generated is enough to temporarily conductors of electricity. (7)

© Top Form Teaching

SCIENCE READING COMPREHENSION