what makes the sound of thunder?

Answer 1

Thunder is caused by the lightning. When a lightning bolt travels through the air, it increases the temperature to over 10,000 degrees F. This heat causes the air to expand, and then it cools very rapidly. So air rushes back into this area, and runs into air rushing in from the other side. This impact of air running into air causes the thunder. Exact reason why there is never one or the other but both together.

Answer 2

Thunder is basically the result of the lightning bolt "exploding" in the air.

Lightning bolts are incredibly hot -- anywhere from 30,000 to 50,000 degrees. (That's hotter than the sun!) When that intense heat pierces the air, the rapid heating of the air creates an explosive shock wave that races away from the bolt at speeds greater than the speed of sound.

That creates a sonic boom, which we know as thunder.

If you're near where the lightning bolt struck, the thunder will sound like an explosive clap. However, more distant strikes will sound more like a rumbling as the sound waves spread out and echo off the ground or nearby buildings.

i got this from a science website so its a good answer

Answer 3

In the 20th century a consensus evolved that thunder must begin with a shock wave in the air due to the sudden thermal expansion of the plasma in the lightning channel. In a fraction of a second the air is heated to a temperature approaching 28,000 °C (50,000 °F)[1]. This heating causes it to expand outward, plowing into the surrounding cooler air at a speed faster than sound would travel in that cooler air. The outward-moving pulse that results is a shock wave, similar in principle to the shock wave formed by an explosion, or at the front of a supersonic aircraft.

Answer 4

Thunder is the sound made by lightning. Depending on the nature of the lightning and distance of the hearer, it can range from a sharp, loud crack to a long, low rumble. It is produced by a sonic shock wave caused by the rapid expansion of the air surrounding and within a bolt of lightning.

To put it simply, lightning is electricity. It forms in the strong up-and-down air currents inside tall dark cumulonimbus clouds as water droplets, hail, and ice crystals collide with one another.

Answer 5

When the stream of electrons from the clouds hits the earth, the energy is released in several form including sound (compression of air) and light (emissions of photon particules). Also great heat if you just happen to be at the point of impact ;-)
Thunder actually is the sound.
Lightning is the light.

Answer 6

Thunder is caused by lightning. The electric discharge creates a short-lived plasma of ionized air molecules (mostly nitrogen). They expand and then quickly contract, this movement of the air around them is the pressure wave creating the sound of thunder.

Answer 7

The "BOOM!"-sound we hear when a lightning bolt jolts across the sky is the result of the static electricity in the air caused by the lightning.
Electricity requires space to travel (lightning bolt.) The air that is moved by this electrical energy is moved by the electricity. This "movement" is the sound of this air moving. - - - - - - - - - - - - (thus) LIGHTNING; which causes THUNDER.

Answer 8

A hot and a cold thunder lizard collides up in the sky.

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Answer 9

sound is just air being moved (look at a large speaker in action: an electromagnet is used to move the cone back and forth to move air)

when electrical discharge occurs in the atmosphere (lightning) the "local" air is heated and expands thereby pushing air and thus propagating sound

(if you can't explain something to a 6 year old, you don't understand it yourself)

Answer 10

wow nice question i stared yours,
I'm now sure...but u know when u see the lightning that's when u here the sound of thunder and the lightning's sound is made by um.... lemi think....the clouds? i don't know...i don't know but i know that the sound of thunder is made by the lightning. hope it helps he he = )