Lightning is a natural electrical discharge that occurs within a thunderstorm. It is formed by a complex process that involves the buildup and discharge of electrical energy within a thundercloud.

Within a thundercloud, strong updrafts and downdrafts cause the cloud's water droplets and ice particles to collide and become separated, with the positive and negative charges accumulating in different regions of the cloud. As the charge separation continues to intensify, a large electrical potential difference, or voltage, builds up between the top and bottom of the cloud.

When the voltage becomes high enough, a discharge of electricity occurs between the opposite charges within the cloud or between the cloud and the ground. This discharge ionizes the air along its path, creating a channel of plasma through which the electrical current can flow.

The visible lightning bolt is the result of the intense heat generated by the electrical current as it travels through the ionized channel. This heat causes the air to expand explosively, producing the characteristic thunder that accompanies a lightning strike.

The reason why some lightning strikes the ground directly while others remain in the cloud has to do with the specific path the discharge takes. Lightning will typically follow the path of least resistance, which is determined by the distribution of charges within the cloud and the surrounding atmosphere.

If the negatively charged bottom of the cloud is closer to the ground, or if there is a tall object like a tree or building that provides a path of least resistance for the electrical discharge, then the lightning will strike the ground. On the other hand, if the negatively charged region is higher up in the cloud and there are no nearby objects that provide a conductive path to the ground, then the lightning will remain within the cloud.
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