eli5 Why is lightning purple? As opposed to how electricity usually appears yellow.
In: Physics
It’s more purple or blue or green because of molecules of the air heat up to 30,000K and electrons fall from their atoms. When these atoms fuse back again, light is emitted of a specific wavelength in the spectrum. More Nitrogen atoms will make it more blue, more Oxygen atoms make it more yellow and red. Some other parts of the emitted light are mostly infrared and ultraviolet, so not visible.
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