Lightning Strike

Remember that we have already discussed that the length of an arrow resembles the field strenght of that spot (the longer, the stronger)? The further away from the spot where the bolt hit the ground, the weaker the field strength.

Now, take a look at your drawn lines; those lines of the SAME field strengths.
If you move the cursor over the picture, you can compare your drawing with the solution.
You can see that those lines form circles around the spot of the lightning strike. What could that mean?
In all spots on one line, the field strength is always the same. You can see that in the length of the arrows: they have all the same length along one line. Those lines are called equipotential lines. This means that there is the same electric potential along those lines. Same potential means same energy level.
This means that between two lines of different field strength there is an energy difference. We use the term potential difference. This energy difference is nothing less than voltage.

Now, try to find two points in your drawing between which is no (or very little) voltage and name them a and b. After that chose a third point c, so that you have high voltage between a and c.

You can compare your work with the solution on the next page!