2006-11-16 08:48:26 · 6 answers · asked by STORMY K 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Actually it is the other way around. Since light travels faster than sound, you *see* lightning before you *hear* the accompanying thunder.
Light travels at about 186,000 miles per *second*
Sound travels at about 760 miles per *hour*. This works out to about 1/5 of a mile per second (0.2114... miles per second)
So if you count the time between when you see the lightning (almost instantaneously) and the time until you hear the lightning, then divide by 5, you can get a rough estimate of how far away to where the lightning is striking.
If the difference is 25 seconds, it is 5 miles away. If it is 5 seconds, it is 1 mile away. If it happens at the same time as the lightning... good luck!
2006-11-16 08:50:48 · answer #1 · answered by Puzzling 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lightning cannot follow thunder. Thunder is created by electricity super heating the air around it and making it expand rapidly creating sound waves. So lightning must occur first, in order for thunder to be heard.
2006-11-16 17:01:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't
You see the lightening then the thunder takes about 1 second per mile to arrive. MACH 1 or so.
2006-11-16 16:51:42 · answer #3 · answered by kurticus1024 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thunder follows lightning because the speed of light is faster than the speed of sound
2006-11-16 16:57:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Flashes are very hot , equal to 1000* Celsius.
The air around the flash warms up in milliseconds and grow in an explosion.
This is what you hear after lightning.
It´s only fast heatened air that move very fast.
2006-11-16 16:53:21 · answer #5 · answered by Bob S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't... lightning happens first.
2006-11-16 16:56:06 · answer #6 · answered by hmmm... 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋