2007-07-14 03:33:06 · 6 answers · asked by martha d 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Lightning cause thunder at the same time it strikes. Lightning causes thunder because a strike of lightning is incredibly hot. A typical bolt of lightning can immediately heat the air to between 15,000 to 60,000 degrees Fahrenheit. That's hotter than the surface of the sun!
A lightning strike can heat the air in a fraction of a second. When air is heated that quickly, it expands violently and then contracts, like an explosion that happens in the blink of an eye. It's that explosion of air that creates sound waves, which we hear and call thunder.
The flash of a lightning strike and resulting thunder occur at roughly the same time. But light travels at 186,000 miles in a second, almost a million times the speed of sound. Sound travels at the slower speed of one-fifth of a mile in the same time. So the flash of lightning is seen before thunder is heard. By counting the seconds between the flash and the thunder and dividing by 5, you can estimate your distance from the strike (in miles).
When lightning strikes very close by, we hear the thunder as a loud and short bang. We hear thunder from far away as a long, low rumble.
Lightning always produces thunder. When you see lightning but don't hear any thunder, the lightning is too far away from you for the sound waves to reach you.
2007-07-14 03:44:50 · answer #1 · answered by Einstein 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Thunder comes from lightning.Lightning occurs because of potential difference between clouds or between cloud and earth's surface.The lightning arc suddenly expands the nearby air which immediately contracts producing the thunder sound.
2007-07-14 05:22:59 · answer #2 · answered by Arasan 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lightning comes somewhat ahead of thunder...they quite a lot happen on an identical time. yet you will see the lightning first. Thunder is purely the sound waves created by making use of the disturbance in the air that the lightning makes.
2016-12-14 08:36:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
hi there
THIS SITE WILL HELP :
Thunder & Lightning: Resources and Links
We believe they come to us because they simply enter "thunder" into their web ... How does a thunderstorm form? A thunderstorm always starts from a cumulus cloud. ...lightning.thunder.net - 8k - Cached
BE WELL BE SAFE GOD BLESS
2007-07-14 03:40:12 · answer #4 · answered by sugarlove_one 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
when lightning strikes it is ridiculously hot. Its this contact between our cooler atmosphere and the lightning that makes the sound of thunder.
2007-07-14 03:36:55 · answer #5 · answered by BannyD 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when the angel's go bowling
2007-07-14 03:40:38 · answer #6 · answered by XoAngieXo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋