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The 'electricity' would move at the same speed, but it would take longer to get from the cloud to the ground.

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16y ago

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The speed of lightning is the speed of light, which is about 299,792 kilometers per second (186,282 miles per second) in a vacuum. If lightning traveled in a straight line instead of zigzagging, it would still move at the speed of light.

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9mo ago
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Q: What would the speed of lightning be if it didn't zig zag?
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Continue Learning about Earth Science

Why is the thunder is in the zig zag pattern?

Thunder occurs when lightning heats up the air, causing it to expand and create a sound wave. The zigzag pattern of thunder is due to the way lightning branches out in different directions before connecting back to the ground. This branching path of lightning creates a zigzag pattern of sound waves that we perceive as thunder.


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A lightning strike typically follows a jagged, branching shape due to the path of least resistance through the air. It can appear as a single bolt or multiple branches stretching across the sky or ground.


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