Regarding to the Earth and a cloud layer 600 m above the Earth as the ‘plates’ of a capacitor, compute the capacitance. Suppose that the cloud layer consists of an area of 1 km2 and that the air between the cloud and the ground is pure and dry.
Suppose charge builds up on the cloud and on the ground till a uniform electric field of 2.0 x 106 N/C all through the space between them makes the air break down and conduct electricity as a lightning bolt. Determine the maximum charge the cloud can hold?