I woke up at around 4-6am and saw lightning every 10 min or so. And I am not sure why is it that no thunder was heard after every lightning as compared to those in the showers in the day?
2007-05-21 18:09:45 · 3 answers · asked by SnowSkin 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
It was probably because it was farther away. Since light travels much faster and farther than sound, you many times see lightning without hearing the thunder.
Actually sound waves travel better at night because:
1. Less noise, especially true for the city.
2. Sound wave carry better at night, like AM radio.
2007-05-22 15:32:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thunder is, even today, not completely understood by science. The word usually describes a sonic shock wave caused by the rapid heating and expansion of the air surrounding and within a bolt of lightning. The bolt heats the air, rapidly expanding it. This causes an almost explosive turnout, which is commonly known as thunder.
This phenomenon occurs at the same time as a lightning flash, but a thunder clap is usually heard after lightning is seen because light travels faster (186,000 miles / 299,338 kilometers per second) than sound (around 700 miles / 1,126 kilometers per hour, varying depending on temperature, humidity and air pressure).
2007-05-28 21:03:36 · answer #2 · answered by tariq sapi 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There was something to attenuate the sound of the thunder. Maybe the distance from the lightening or the intensity of the rain. Rain does absorb sound. Otherwise there isn't any other reason for your not hearing the thunder. These attenuating conditions can occur at any time of the day and dawn has nothing to do with that.
2007-05-22 11:54:12 · answer #3 · answered by DaveSFV 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋