Precipitation static can cause a visible luminous discharge known as St. Elmo's Fire.

Precipitation static can cause a visible luminous discharge known as St. Elmo's Fire.

• A. Aurora Borealis
• B. A visible luminous discharge known as St. Elmo's Fire
• C. Lightning
• D. Static cling

Answer: (B)

When precipitation static builds up on an aircraft, strong electric fields can form around sharp edges like wingtips or a windshield. This field can ionize the nearby air, producing a faint, visible glow called St. Elmo's Fire. It’s a classic example of a corona discharge—a small, continuous glow rather than a dramatic bolt of lightning. That’s why the correct choice is the description of a visible luminous discharge known as St. Elmo's Fire. The other options describe different phenomena: the Aurora Borealis is a separate atmospheric light show caused by solar particles, lightning is a rapid, large-scale discharge, and static cling is a non-luminous electrostatic attraction.

When precipitation static builds up on an aircraft, strong electric fields can form around sharp edges like wingtips or a windshield. This field can ionize the nearby air, producing a faint, visible glow called St. Elmo's Fire. It’s a classic example of a corona discharge—a small, continuous glow rather than a dramatic bolt of lightning. That’s why the correct choice is the description of a visible luminous discharge known as St. Elmo's Fire. The other options describe different phenomena: the Aurora Borealis is a separate atmospheric light show caused by solar particles, lightning is a rapid, large-scale discharge, and static cling is a non-luminous electrostatic attraction.