2007-07-23 11:27:11 · 7 answers · asked by mama mia 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
You may observe only one, but one can't exist without the other. Thunder is noise caused by lightning's massive electrical discharge.
2007-07-23 11:30:39 · answer #1 · answered by Tim M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hello, its actually a very interesting question , which at first would seem easy to answer. Normally you would say "No lightning cant exist without creating creating the characteristic thunder clap". However you can experience lightning without hearing the thunder, this phenomena is called "heat lightning" , ive tried to post some links.
Ive experienced it myself, i saw loads of lightning in the clouds and heard no thunder, at the time i thought it a bizarre experience since it wasnt even raining where i was but i could see the rain approaching.
2007-07-23 18:49:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thunder is caused by the heat of lightning rapidly expanding the air. The shock wave (thunder) spreads out from the thunderstorm and decreases in intesnsity as you get further from the storm. It is unlikely you will hear thunder from a storm more than 20km away. You can see lightning at a great distance and I have frequently seen it in storms more than 100km away. You can't hear the thunder but you can see the lightning. If you travel to those distant storms, however, you will hear the thunder when you get close enough.
2007-07-23 18:42:47 · answer #3 · answered by tentofield 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A lightning bolt of typical size heats the air to millions of degrees in a fraction of a second. This causes the air to expand faster than the speed of sound, creating a shock wave (otherwise known as a "sonic boom"). The shock wave echoes off the ground or any nearby objects, creating a series of noises we call thunder.
It is basically impossible for cloud-to-ground lightning in air to fail to create thunder.
However, other things can create sonic booms, like supersonic aircraft, so if you want to call that thunder, it is possible to have thunder without lightning.
2007-07-23 18:34:48 · answer #4 · answered by lithiumdeuteride 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely there can be lighting w/o thunder but vice versa not really sure
2007-07-23 18:30:52 · answer #5 · answered by randomkid 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can have thunder without lightning.
2007-07-27 15:26:00 · answer #6 · answered by Jackie P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I don't see how that would work. However I suppose you could see lighting but not hear it because it's too far away, or not see lighting cause you weren't paying attention but then hear it.
But I'm no expert.
2007-07-23 18:30:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋