Answer: Lightnings are produced due to electric discharges in the clouds
Step-by-step explanation:
Lightnings are produced due to electric discharges in the clouds that occur when ice and condensed water collide within the clouds.
So, the voltage difference (which causes electric discharges) is mainly due to the different ionization rates of the components of the gases that form the clouds. All this as a result of the effect that sunlight has on clouds and the difference in temperatures among its different strata.
It should be noted that the particular branched forms a lightning has is due to the fact that this electric discharge descends through the clouds following the shortest straight line that joins two maximum voltage variations.
In other words: It goes through where it finds less resistance in its path.