2006-09-24 10:42:06 · 21 answers · asked by Bx 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Thunder is caused by lightning. The sound is made as the air around the lightning bolt rapidly heats and cools. The air around a lightning strike is heated to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit (27,500 C), as the air cools it causes a shock wave to occur known as thunder. The closer the lightning is, the louder the clap of thunder will be. You can think of thunder as nature's way of warning you to take cover to avoid being struck by lightning.
Over 100,000 thunderstorms are recorded every year but only a small percentage is considered 'severe' by the National Weather Service. Thunderstorms are capable of producing tornados, strong winds, hail and heavy rain, which can lead to flash flooding.
2006-09-24 10:46:52 · answer #1 · answered by missymouth1 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rapid expansion of air after lightning. The temperatures generated by lightning are so intense the air it heats expands rapidly(same as in an explosion). Calculate how near you are to a lightning strike by counting the seconds after a flash. Thunder will travel 1 mile in 5 seconds(1km in 3 seconds). Thunder almost instantaneously after the flash means it was very close.
2006-09-28 15:42:08 · answer #2 · answered by colin.christie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can also use thunder to estimate the distance you are from the strike. Count the number of seconds between the lightning strike and when you hear the thunder. That number times 1000 is the distance in feet.
2006-09-24 17:52:14 · answer #3 · answered by williegod 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The peak current in the channel (lightning)can reach 10,000 amps and the air in the channel can be heated to a temp hotter than the surface of the sun. This causes the air in the path to expand violently, producing the sound waves we hear as thunder, hence the term...thunderstorms.
2006-09-25 18:16:09 · answer #4 · answered by cherokeeflyer 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When the lightning strikes, it heats the air surrounding it, quite quickly, and the extreme heat of the lightning causes the air to expand explosively. The thunder is the sound of the air expanding.
2006-09-26 03:15:00 · answer #5 · answered by Malene P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its a sonic shock wave caused by the rapid heating and expansion of the air surrounding and within a bolt of lighting the bolt changes the air into plasma and it instantly explodes causing the sound knowin as a thunder clap
2006-09-26 09:41:35 · answer #6 · answered by rusty red 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The clouds rubbing against one another creates friction.
This produces the lightning and the sound follows.
2006-09-24 18:18:30 · answer #7 · answered by Ne Obliviscaris 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a rapid heating of the air caused by lightning. The air momentarily seperates and crashes back together
2006-09-24 17:44:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rapid expansion of air in the path of the lightning bolt.
2006-09-24 21:28:07 · answer #9 · answered by 0057dw 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Air pressure colliding in the atmosphere
2006-09-27 17:55:36 · answer #10 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋