So i have developed an interest in electricity and have grown obsessed due to being autistic. Being not particularly bright, i'm constantly wrestling with extremely specific questions that illuminate my ignorance.
My question is, i have read that in a cloud, ice crystals are being thrown around by turbulent air and bump into one another. Okay. When this happens, they shes valent electrons onto one another, altering the charge? Okay. Positively charge particles, (Cations?) Congregate at the top of the cloud, and negatively charged particles, (Anions?) Congregate at the bottom.
Then, the negative charge at the base of the cloud wants to meet the positive charge (Why is the ground positively charged? Doesn't the earth have a neutral charge? Is it because it's an electron sink?) Of the ground. A stepped leader descends, a return stroke rises to meet it. Super fast, super hot, pow. Thunder and lightning. Very, very frightening.
My question is (finally) why is the negative charge attracted to the ground? Why would the negative charge not just reunite with the positive charge at the top of the cloud that's much closer? Is it because the ions in the cloud are being erratically hurled around? Sorry for this, but i have so many questions reageding this topic that it's driving me crazy.
Thanks.