please I dont need ppl tellin me that they are different things, they are the same you may see or hear one or the other but bound by the laws of nature and phisics they do not and cannot occur alone.
2006-12-31 00:53:15 · 7 answers · asked by kinetic 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
thunder, sound produced along a path of a lightning flash, caused by the rapid heating and expansion of the adjacent air. Rolling thunder occurs either as a result of the time difference between sounds from the far and near end of a flash, or when mountains, layers of air, or other obstructions cause reverberations. Since sound travels about 1 mi in 5 sec, the distance between a lightning flash and an observer may be determined by counting the seconds between the flash and the thunder. Thunder as far distant as 10 to 15 mi (15 to 25 km) from an observer is usually not heard, even though lightning is often seen.
2006-12-31 00:58:29 · answer #1 · answered by ROVER T 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Lightning splits the air via an electric charge the resulting concussion produces an audible sound (Thunder) because light travels faster than sound the thunder appears to happen after the flash of lightning is seen but actually happens at the same time as a result of the discharge. You can demonstrate this with static electricity when you have a strong static discharge you can hear a tick sound its the same thing as a lightning discharge on a much much smaller scale.
2006-12-31 09:04:52 · answer #2 · answered by crawler 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The lightning strike travels at the speed of light 300000000 m/s. Sound travels at 330m/s. The thunder is the sound of the lightning strike. This is why you always hear the thunder after the lightning. You can say that the strike is instant and the time it takes to hear the thunder is the equivelent of 3 seconds per kilometre. Hope this helps.
2006-12-31 08:58:43 · answer #3 · answered by Halox 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they occur together but different phenomenons. Thunder is just pressure waves of super heated air caused by lightening strike. We hear the air pressure waves and our brain translates this as a thunder boom sound.
If the air was superheated in the same way without lightening but by an non electrical explosive flash it would produce thunder.
2006-12-31 08:56:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
yes they can, it is quite possible to get thunder (at sea) without lightning
2006-12-31 08:56:16 · answer #5 · answered by ROMFT 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
as above
2007-01-03 05:32:42 · answer #6 · answered by dream theatre 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try this
2006-12-31 08:56:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋