Why does thunder from distant lightning rumble while close lightning gives a sharpcrack?

Answer 1

Lower frequency sound travels much futher than higher frequency sound. It is this same principal that drives communication over tens of miles between animals like Whales and Elephants.

Our ears cannot actually hear the lowest frequency sounds these creatures make, unless they are altered using special recording devices.

It's fascinating really. Close thunder has alot of bass too, but it's drowned out by the cracking sound you hear. The reason you can also hear longer rumbles from distant thunder is that the sound will actually echo, and you are hearing the same thunder a couple times in a row, reflecting off ground surfaces etc.

Answer 2

The fast and simplest answer is because of what you mentioned in your very question. Distant lightning (from your hearing range and vantage point), will produce a rumbling, echo-y sound. If you see a strike up close, the resulting sound will therefore be much more sharp and intense.

Answer 3

because as sound travels over distance, it dissipates and gets buffered by the air. same with ripples in water. when you drop a rock into the water, the ripples near where the rock fell in are much larger and violent than the ones 10 or 15 feet out from it. same way with thunder. if lightning strikes 50 feet from you, it will sound pretty harsh, but if it strikes 3 miles from you, the sound is alot more gentle. hope this helps.

Answer 4

Lightening does NOT make the rumble (thunder) sound. Thunder is a result of clashing air masses.
First you'll hear the rumble which is then followed by lightening.

Answer 5

The rumblings is due to echo of the thunder sound from many objects including hills, ground surface and clouds.

Answer 6

With distant thunder you pay attention a bazillion echos from the floor, clouds, wood, homes, and so on. that upload jointly between the preliminary sharp crack and the time it gets to you. Doug