why does lightning form the “tree roots” pattern where it squiggles and branches out? Rather than, for example, straight up and down?
In: Physics
What you need to keep in mind is that electrons are repelled from each other. They’re trying to leap towards an attractive positive charge, but they’re also trying to leap away from their neighbouring electrons. So during the phase of lightning formation before an arc to ground has been established, it follows this exploring, branching pattern as different branches try to compromise between finding a positively charged ground, avoiding paths of high resistance, and reaching in a direction which takes them away from the other branches.
This is also why [Lichtenburg figures](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwGnxB9BXK0) look like trees.
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