Electrical discharge through air occurs when:

• A. The current stops due to high resistance.
• B. The energy stored in a battery is released slowly.
• C. Charge buildup can ionize air and create a conducting path.
• D. A conductor is cooled to reduce resistance.

Answer: (C)

Electrical discharge through air happens when the electric field from accumulated charge becomes strong enough to ionize air molecules, turning the air into a plasma that can carry current. In this ionized channel, charge can jump across gaps, producing a spark or arc. Air normally acts as an insulator, but at very high voltages (the breakdown strength of air), electrons are knocked free and a conducting path forms, allowing a rapid current to flow. The other statements don’t fit because high resistance would stop current rather than create discharge, a battery releasing energy slowly isn’t about a sudden conducting path through air, and cooling a conductor to lower its resistance doesn’t inherently cause discharge through air.