Final answer:
The area of a cloud struck by lightning from another cloud had a positive charge, which attracted the negative charge from the striking cloud. Lightening is caused by the breakdown of the air's insulating properties at high electric fields, which are greater around storm clouds than under fair weather conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The electric potential difference between the ground and a cloud can indeed attract lightning. This occurs when a significant electrical charge builds up in a cloud relative to the ground. In the case of cloud-to-cloud lightning strikes, we can infer information about the charges involved.
If a cloud discharges its excess electrons to another cloud, it suggests that the area of the cloud that was struck by lightning had a positive charge, attracting the negative charge from the other cloud. Moreover, storm clouds can produce localized electric fields that are larger and can be reversed in direction than the fair weather electric field of about 150 N/C.
Furthermore, the breakdown of the insulating properties of the air due to very high electric fields leads to lightning. This phenomenon is analogous to the way in which a lightning rod works, as it allows for the neutralization of some of the charge accumulated due to oppositely charged clouds or ground, which prevents lightning strikes near the rod.
The process is similar to how nerve impulses work, both involving the flow of electric current due to differences in electrical charge.
Therefore answer is A) Attracts Lightning.