2006-08-20 02:04:02 · 23 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Yes, since thunder is the sound resulting from the electrical discharge (lightening)..
2006-08-20 02:08:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's the same thing: It's caused by an electrical discharge/shock - the lightening is what we see, and the thunder is the sound we hear when it happens.
The reason that you may not hear thunder at exactly the same time as you see the lightening is that sound (i.e. thunder) and light (i.e. lightening) do not travel at the same speed. Light travels extremely fast, but sound travels slower. If the lightening strike occurs some distance from where you are, the light will travel to you (almost) instantly, but it will take longer for the sound waves to reach you, so you will hear the thunder a few seconds later. The longer the gap between the thunder and lightening, the further away it is. If you hear the thunder at the same time as you see the lightening strike, it's happening right where you are!
Sometimes, if a lightening strike occurs during the daylight, you would only hear the thunder, and not see the lightening, because it's not dark enough outside to see it - it just doesn't show up. That doesn't mean it's not there, though.
2006-08-20 09:19:53 · answer #2 · answered by Annie anne 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes and No. Lighting and thunder do go together, except some times you just can't hear it. Not because of distance or the sound being blocked by a hill. But because the voltage is so low.
Low voltage lightning general occurs when lightning never touches the ground, such as sheet lightning. It also depends on how much energy has built up before the charge is released that measures the intensity of the bolt and the sound you hear.
2006-08-20 09:37:19 · answer #3 · answered by battle-ax 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically, yes.
The lightning heats the air very quickly, which causes a wave of air. This wave is heard as sound, or thunder. But, since light and sound travel at different speeds, it is possible to hear thunder without seeing the lightning, and to see the lightning without hearing the thunder.
2006-08-20 21:29:45 · answer #4 · answered by J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, however it can appear that it is not because of the distance between the lightning which caused the thunder, if it is a fair way off and you perhaps live by hills or in a valley.
See attached website for clear explanations and some fantastic pics.
2006-08-20 09:12:49 · answer #5 · answered by witchealer 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Lightning is the light energy caused by the collision of rain clouds and thunder the sound. so apparently the go together though sometimes we cannot hear the thunder because it is faint.
2006-08-21 08:59:32 · answer #6 · answered by Mermaid♥ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was always told that once you seen lightening you count until you hear thunder and the number you are on is how many miles the storm is from you. My mom taught me that when I was little and ever since then I count when I see lightening, it really does work. To really answer your question though they do go together.
Take care.
2006-08-20 09:11:32 · answer #7 · answered by speedracer54348066 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes as thunder is the noise from lightning. It is possible to hear the thunder and not see the lightning and also see the lightning but not hear the thunder
2006-08-20 09:10:42 · answer #8 · answered by Paul B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Thunder is the sound created by lightning.
The reason you see the lightning before you hear it is because light travels faster than sound (something like 670 million MPH compared 750 MPH).
2006-08-20 09:20:37 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it's the lightning that causes the thunder
2006-08-20 09:07:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋