I know usually theres thunder and lightning together but does it ALWAYS happen like that?
2006-08-01 15:45:58 · 9 answers · asked by Raining on a Sunday 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Thunder is the sound of lightning. Lightning is similar to static electricity, but on a much more massive scale. You know how when you experience static electricity you see a little spark and hear a little pop? Well, when lightning strikes, you see much more than a little spark, and it makes a HUGE noise that can travel for miles. So, thunder ALWAYS accompanies lightning, and since the speed of light is faster than the speed of sound, you always see the lightning before hearing the thunder.
Rain is something totally different and has nothing to do with lightning and thunder, but are often times seen together because they both are affected by pressure changes in the air.
2006-08-01 16:02:43 · answer #1 · answered by Stephanie S 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lightning and thunder do occur together. Sometimes you see and hear both and other times you hear thunder but do not see the lightning and vise versa. This is because light and sound have different charastics and do not take identical paths. You can have thunder and lightning without a drop of rain. Not uncommon in the prairies.
2006-08-01 17:14:48 · answer #2 · answered by Brock G 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where there's lightning, there's thunder (assuming you have an atmosphere). Thunder is the sound of the electrical discharge making its way to ground.
But where there's thunder there doesn't have to be rain. Dry electrical storms do happen.
2006-08-01 15:52:49 · answer #3 · answered by kittybriton 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is only thunder when the lightning is striking ground. Also there could be thunder and lightning, but no rain.
2006-08-02 01:54:03 · answer #4 · answered by Darth Osiris 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thunder is lightning, the discrepancy is based on the fact that it takes longer for the sound to travel :) as far as the rain, i know heat lightning does not involve rain, and not all rain involves thunder. hope that helps!
2006-08-01 15:51:47 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. there can be thunder and lightning without rain.
2006-08-01 15:50:15 · answer #6 · answered by idiot detector 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it is not true at all. There can be lighting without thunder and rain.
2006-08-02 04:01:03 · answer #7 · answered by wiz_on_line 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO, but if lightning travels at the speed of light, how fast would it go if it didn't zig zag?
2006-08-01 16:20:53 · answer #8 · answered by Sleepy Mike 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Electrical storms can occur with no rainfall.
2006-08-01 15:50:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋