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Lightning is caused by a build-up of static electricity between raindrops. Eventually, enough builds-up, and it is discharged towards earth. Thunder is the noise caused by such a huge force, it is heard after the lightning is seen because light travels faster than sound.

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βˆ™ 15y ago
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βˆ™ 4mo ago

Light travels faster than sound, so when lightning strikes, you see the flash immediately. Thunder is the sound produced by the rapid expansion of air heated by the lightning bolt, and since sound waves travel more slowly than light, we hear the thunder after a delay.

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βˆ™ 14y ago

The strike comes before the sound, because the electricity and light are faster travel faster than sound. That is why the strike comes before the sound.

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βˆ™ 11y ago

We see lightning before we hear thunder because light travels faster than sound. The speed of light is 299,791,819 meters per second whereas the speed of sound is 321.8688 metres per second

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βˆ™ 11y ago

Because light is significantly faster than sound. Though they happen at the same time, you see the lightning first because it takes less time to travel to you.

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βˆ™ 8y ago

Because the speed of light is much higher than the speed of sound; so the light flash reaches your eyes much earlier than the rumble sound reaches your ears.

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βˆ™ 12y ago

The speed of light travels much, much faster than the speed of sound. Thus, the light reaches your eyes before the sound reaches your ears.

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Q: Why do you always see lightning first before we hear thunder?
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Is it really true that the lightning strikes first before the thunder or the lightning and thunder strikes together but only the lightning seems to be first because of it's speed of light?

Yes, it is true that lightning occurs before thunder. This is because light travels faster than sound. When lightning strikes, the light reaches us almost instantly, while the sound of the thunder takes longer to travel through the air, creating the delay between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder.


During a thunderstorm you see the lightning followed by the sound of the thunder What causes the delay between the light and the sound?

The delay between the lightning and the sound of thunder is due to the difference in speed between light and sound. Light travels much faster than sound, so we see the lightning first before hearing the thunder. By counting the seconds between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder, you can estimate how far away the lightning struck.


Why doesn't thunder and lighting happen at the same time?

Thunder and lightning do happen at the same time, but we see the lightning first because light travels faster than sound. Lightning is a visible discharge of electricity, while thunder is the sound produced by the rapid heating and cooling of the air in the lightning's path.


When do you start hearing thunder?

You start hearing thunder when the rapid expansion of air near a lightning bolt creates a shockwave that travels through the atmosphere, causing the sound of thunder. Lightning and thunder typically occur almost simultaneously, but because light travels faster than sound, we see the lightning first and then hear the thunder a few seconds later.


Why does lightning first?

The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound, therefore you see lightning first during a thunderstorm, then you hear the thunder. *yikes!* :) ilovecatz1234

Related questions

Is thunder heard before you see lightning?

No, lightning is seen before thunder is heard. The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound, so light from the lightning reaches us first, followed by the sound of thunder a few seconds later.


Is it really true that the lightning strikes first before the thunder or the lightning and thunder strikes together but only the lightning seems to be first because of it's speed of light?

Yes, it is true that lightning occurs before thunder. This is because light travels faster than sound. When lightning strikes, the light reaches us almost instantly, while the sound of the thunder takes longer to travel through the air, creating the delay between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder.


Why do you see lightning before you see thunder in terms of wave theory?

You see lightning first because light travels faster then sound.Also, you don't see thunder - you hear it.


Does thunder always mean lightning?

No, thunder doesn't always mean lightning. Thunder is the sound produced by the rapid expansion of air around a lightning bolt as it heats up creating a shock wave. So while thunder is commonly associated with lightning, it is possible to have thunder without seeing the accompanying lightning, especially if the lightning is far away or obstructed from view.


Is thunder the same as lightning?

Thunder and lightning occur roughly at the same time during a thunderstorm, but they are different things. Typically you see the lightning first and then you hear the thunder.


Does thunder happened first?

No, thunder reaches the observer after they see lightning.


Why does lightning come first?

Lightning comes first before thunder because light travels faster than sound. When lightning strikes, the energy causes the air around it to rapidly expand, creating a shockwave that we hear as thunder. The delay between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder depends on how far away the lightning is.


Why does thunder comes after lightning?

Thunder comes after lightning because lightning is caused by a rapid heating and expansion of the air around it. This sudden expansion creates a shock wave, which we hear as thunder. Since light travels faster than sound, we see the lightning first before hearing the thunder.


Is it true that thunder and lightning simultaneous?

No, thunder and lightning do not happen simultaneously. Lightning is a sudden electrostatic discharge that generates light, while thunder is the sound caused by the rapid expansion and contraction of air surrounding the lightning bolt. The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound, so we see the lightning first before hearing the thunder.


What are the similarities of thunder and lightning?

No, the two are quite different. The main difference is lightning is light, thunder is sound. Lightning is an electric charge that can come from a cloud for various reasons. Thunder is the sound made by lightning. Since sound travels slower than light, lightning comes first, thunder second.


Why does lightning appear first before thunder when they both happen at once?

Light travels much faster than sound.


Why is there a delay between the lightning an thunder?

The delay between seeing lightning and hearing thunder is due to the difference in speed between light and sound. Light travels much faster than sound, so we see the lightning first and then hear the thunder a few seconds later, allowing us to estimate the distance of the storm.