2007-04-30 05:45:30 · 8 answers · asked by Max M 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
This method was "revealed" during the Poltergeist movie and has been controversial since then. No, this is not an effective method since lightning is a random event and is not systematic.
2007-04-30 05:51:58 · answer #1 · answered by jcann17 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can figure out the elapsed time between the seeing the flash and hearing the thunder of that flash then multiply this number by the speed of sound for a rough estimation.
Just remember that the light from a flash also had to travel so your answer will be off by that much but this should be minimal if you are examining lightening kinda close to you!
You can try this experiment by going to a baseball game and timing the time diff between seeing the hall strike the bat and hearing the sound!
Speed of sound (roughly) = 769 mph
Speed of light (roughly) = 186,000 miles per second
2007-04-30 06:02:04 · answer #2 · answered by democracyisit 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes this works because you are assuming that the Thunder and Light were generated at the same time. Light travels so fast that you see it with no delay, but sound travels about 1100 feet/second. So if you count the seconds and divide by 5 you will have the number of miles away that the Lightning happened.
In other words about 5 seconds of delay for each mile.
2007-04-30 05:56:18 · answer #3 · answered by rscanner 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Count the seconds and divide by 5 to get the distance in miles.
2007-04-30 06:15:26 · answer #4 · answered by Gene 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The speed of sound in air is approximately 750 mph, or 12.5 mile per minute, or 0.2 miles per second.
While the speed of light is mega times faster. Assuming the light arrives instantaneously from the strike, the thunder is about 1/4 mile per second behind.
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2007-04-30 05:54:15 · answer #5 · answered by odu83 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It ability, that once a mild travels alot quicker then sound. as a result once you notice the lightning the sound is produced on a similar time inspite of the undeniable fact that it takes longer to get too you. in case you count quantity the seconds in between those 2 and divide by 3 you get the quantity of miles in between. wish that helped, im kinda rusty.
2016-12-10 15:28:51 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thunder (sound) travels at 1131 ft/sec in 72 degree air.
1131 ft/sec * 1 mile/5280 ft = .214 miles/sec
5 seconds *0.214 miles/sec = 1.07 miles
so 5 seconds ~ 1 miles
2007-04-30 05:55:18 · answer #7 · answered by Grant d 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard every second is approx. 10 miles.
2007-04-30 05:49:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋