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Because the light that brings the view to your eyes travels about 875,000 times

faster, and reaches you sooner, than the sound that brings the sound to your

ears. If the event is anywhere more than maybe a hundred feet from you, then

you can begin to perceive the difference.

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13y ago
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2w ago

You see a clap before you hear it because light travels much faster than sound. When someone claps, the sound waves created by the clap take longer to reach your ears than the light waves reaching your eyes, causing a delay in what you see and what you hear.

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Q: Why do you see a clap before you hear it?
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Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

Why do you see a flashed of lightning before you hear a clap of thunder?

Light travels much faster than sound, so when lightning occurs, the light reaches you almost instantly while the sound of thunder, which moves slower, takes longer to reach your ears. This delay between the two allows you to see the flash of lightning before hearing the clap of thunder.


Do you hear thunder clap before or after the lightning bolt?

Since the speed of light is faster than the speed of sound, you will see the lightening bolt first. If you count the seconds between the two, you will have a rough estimate as to how far away the lightening bolt is.


When a cannon is fired why do you see the light before you hear it?

For the same reason you see lightning before you hear thunder, Light travels faster than sound.


What does it mean if you see a flash of lightning and clap of thunder at almost the exact same time?

Just for fun: If you see a clap of thunder, call a journalist! More seriously, if you see a flash of lightning and hear a clap of thunder at almost the same exact time, it means that the electrical discharge that generated both the lightning and the thunder is very close to you, and you should take precautions immediately to avoid injury to yourself. Usually, the most practical precaution is to seek shelter in a building protected by lightning rods or a metal vehicle that will conduct electricity around you more readily than through you!


If you see lightning and didn't here thunder what dose that mean?

If you see lightning but don't hear thunder, it means the lightning is far away. The speed of light is much faster than the speed of sound, so you usually see lightning before you hear the associated thunder.

Related questions

Why isn't a deaf clap the same as a regular clap?

Because the deaf person can't hear you clap.


You clap your hands, and instantly you hear an echo of the clap. What does this tell you about the size of the room?

uuyuyuyuybuybuybyubuybybuybubiubiub


Why do you see a flashed of lightning before you hear a clap of thunder?

Light travels much faster than sound, so when lightning occurs, the light reaches you almost instantly while the sound of thunder, which moves slower, takes longer to reach your ears. This delay between the two allows you to see the flash of lightning before hearing the clap of thunder.


What do eardrums do?

It makes you hear, by sensing vibrations, like a clap.


Do you hear thunder clap before or after the lightning bolt?

Since the speed of light is faster than the speed of sound, you will see the lightening bolt first. If you count the seconds between the two, you will have a rough estimate as to how far away the lightening bolt is.


When a cannon is fired why do you see the light before you hear it?

For the same reason you see lightning before you hear thunder, Light travels faster than sound.


How do you do the Pepsi Cola Cheer?

Pepsi Cola Cheer/Pepsi Cola Dance Song Pepsi-Cola, Pep-pepsi-Cola Pepsi-Cola, Pep-pepsi-Cola I can slide and slide And do the Butterfly I can dip and dip And shake my little hips I want you and you To do it with me too Front (clap, clap, clap, clap) Back (clap, clap, clap, clap) Side (clap, clap, clap, clap) Side (clap, clap, clap, clap) Front, back, side, side I can do my butterfly Five, six, seven eight, Let me see your booty shake!


Why do you hear a sound when you clap?

When you clap, you create a sudden disturbance in the air, compressing and pushing the air molecules. This movement produces a pressure wave that travels through the air and reaches your ears, where they are detected as sound waves. The sound you hear is the result of this series of vibrations and pressure changes.


When you hear a clap of thunder your immediate reaction is to jerkthe sound of thunder would be a?

stimulus


How do starfish know when a predator is coming?

they hear them before they see them.


How come you see lighting and do not hear it and how come you hear thunder and do not see it?

You see lightning before you hear it because light moves faster than sound. Thunder comes from the lightning. You can't hear it until the sound waves reach you.


What is a good chant for central coast mariners?

go the mariners 'clap' 'clap' 'clap' we are the best the very very best 'clap' 'clap' 'clap' 'clap' come on mariners we will score 'clap' 'clap' 'clap' we can win this 'clap' 'clap' 'clap' 'clap' 'clap'