2006-08-04 15:33:07 · 18 answers · asked by Chris86 dotdotdot 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Thunder is the sound of the shockwave caused during a thunderstorm when lightning rapidly heats and expands the air in and directly around the lightning channel (bolt) into plasma, producing acoustic shock waves in the atmosphere. It is said that the air is heated up to 30 000 °C (54 000 °F). This phenomenon happens at the same time (lightning strike/air expansion thunderclap), but we hear thunder after we see lightning due to the simple fact that light travels at a faster speed than sound. However, at a close enough distance to the actual lighting strike point, both sound and light can be heard/seen simultaneously. The exact mechanism is poorly understood.
2006-08-04 15:36:16 · answer #1 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thunder is created when two cells of hot air crash together. The cells are formed because the electricity form a vacuum and super heat the surrounding air. They come together so fast that the gasses almost act like a solid.
2006-08-04 15:39:13 · answer #2 · answered by John W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is. The lightning heats up the air and makes the air crash into each other making the sound of thunder.
2006-08-04 15:37:32 · answer #3 · answered by zombiepirate_13 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, the bolt does in fact heat the air and cause it to expand... as a million other posers... oops, I mean "posters" have already explained. However, has anyone given any thought to what the bold might be striking? In either case, there is some super-heating and some expansion of some kind involved.
2006-08-04 16:03:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
Lightning produces electricity, light and heat, and consequently, sound.
The heat in the lightning causes air to expand in an extremely rapid manner. This expansion of the air produces shock waves that we hear as thunder.
2006-08-04 15:38:12 · answer #5 · answered by Tuna-San 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sort of... thunder is the sound of the air collapsing back upon itself... clapping back together.
the bolt strike put a dead pocket in the air, splitting it apart with it's force.. then when the air slams back together that's the thunder sound.
if lightening strikes close, you can feel a slight breeze afterwards that only lasts a moment.
2006-08-04 15:37:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not directly. Electricity flow is silent. However it heats up the air to extremely high temprature and any suddenly expanding hot gas makes lots of noise, just like the hot gasses in a firing cannon.
2006-08-04 15:37:49 · answer #7 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope. the lighting super heats the air around it, and the sound is caused by the air rapidly expaning due to the heat
2006-08-04 15:36:41 · answer #8 · answered by kw_81_99 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, thunder is the result of lightning rapidly heating the surrounding air, causing it to expand
2006-08-04 15:36:51 · answer #9 · answered by j 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
Lightning superheats the air around it causing the thunder.
2006-08-04 15:36:48 · answer #10 · answered by JaMoke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋