0
Lightning is an atmospheric discharge caused by a very large voltage difference between two objects, usually the clouds and the Earth. Lightning is actually electricity flying through the air. The voltage it takes for electricity to do so is in the millions of volts compared to your household voltage of 110/220v.
When lightning moves through the air it 'ionizes' the air molecules, giving them a strong negative charge. Also, it creates a LOT of heat. These two effects force the air molecules to move very far apart in the vicinity of the lightning.
Once the lightning has finished moving the air cools down quickly. Once they are cool and loose their ionic charge the molecules slam back together. The sound you know as thunder is the trillions of air molecules crashing together.
Another visual:
For the instant just after a lightning strike there is a vacuum formed in a rough tube shape where the bolt travelled. So for a spit second there is nothing where the lightning bolt was. The pressure, from the rest of the atmosphere, around this tube collapses it. The collapse creates a loud noise known as thunder.
Thunder and lightning are closely related atmospheric phenomena. Lightning is a sudden discharge of electricity in the atmosphere, while thunder is the sound waves created by the rapid expansion of air that occurs when lightning heats the air to high temperatures. Thunder and lightning almost always occur together, with the sound of thunder following the flash of lightning.
Thunderstorms form in cumulonimbus clouds. Hurricanes create cumulonimbus clouds. Also, they both have to do with the water cycle.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What is the scientific difference between lightning and thunder?
Lightning is a visible discharge of electricity that occurs within a thunderstorm, usually from cloud to ground or within a cloud. Thunder is the sound caused by the rapid expansion of air surrounding a lightning bolt, due to the intense heat generated by the lightning. In essence, lightning is the visible discharge of electricity, while thunder is the sound produced by the rapid expansion of air.
Why lightning is seen before thunder is heard?
Lightning travels at the speed of light, which is much faster than the speed of sound. When lightning strikes, the light reaches us almost instantaneously, while the sound takes longer to travel to our ears, resulting in a delay between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder.
Thunder is to Lightning as Grape is to Sun Raisin Seed Wine?
Thunder is the sound that follows lightning, so grape is the fruit that comes from which raisins and wine are made.
Is there machine that can absorb thunder electricity?
No, there is currently no machine that can absorb thunder electricity directly. Thunder is the sound caused by lightning, which is a powerful discharge of electricity between clouds or between a cloud and the ground. This energy is dissipated through the atmosphere and ground and cannot be easily harnessed for practical use by a machine.
What is dry thunder?
Dry thunder is a weather phenomenon where thunder and lightning occur without any accompanying precipitation reaching the ground. It can increase the risk of wildfires because the lightning strikes can ignite dry vegetation.
What is the scientific explanation of thunder and ligthning earthquake?
There is no relationship between thunder and lightning and earthquakes.
How is thunder produced and how far away does the lightning strikes if the thunder is heard 15 seconds after the lightning is seen?
Thunder - is the result of a lightning flash. The flash causes the surrounding air to move away from the source at 300 metres/second. An approximate calculation for the relationship between the lightning flash to hearing the thunder, is 5 seconds per mile.
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.
What is a thunder lightning outcome?
A thunder lightning outcome refers to the simultaneous occurrence of thunder and lightning during a thunderstorm. The thunder is the sound produced by the rapid expansion of heated air surrounding a lightning bolt, while the lightning is the visible discharge of electricity between clouds or between a cloud and the ground. A thunder lightning outcome is a common occurrence during thunderstorms.
When you see a lightning strike you will probably hear thunder soon is this a scientific theory or a scientific law?
This concept is based on a scientific principle rather than a theory or law. It is known as the relationship between lightning and thunder, where the sound of thunder follows the flash of lightning due to the rapid expansion and contraction of air molecules caused by the intense heat of the lightning.
What is the difference between heat lightning and regular lightning?
Heat lightning is a term used to describe lightning that can be seen from a distance without hearing thunder. It is usually from a distant storm and is not directly associated with the thunderstorm you are observing. Regular lightning produces thunder because it is closer to you, and the sound of thunder travels slower than light, causing a delay between the flash of lightning and the sound of thunder.
Why can't you see thunder?
Thunder is our name for the sound made by lightning. The reason there is (usually) a delay between when you see the bolt of lightning and hear the thunder is that light travels more quickly than does sound. This is the reason that you can count seconds between seeing lightning and hearing thunder to figure out how close the lightning is to you. When the lightning is closer to you, the sound doesn't take as much time to travel to your ears and thus the gap between the lightning and thunder is shorter. So you can't see thunder because it's merely a sound - but you can see the source of that sound.
Why do you hear tunder sound after lightning explain?
You hear thunder after seeing lightning because lightning produces intense heat that causes the air to rapidly expand and create a shock wave. This shock wave is what we hear as thunder. The distance between you and the lightning strike can affect the time gap between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder.
What would it mean if there were many seconds in between the flash of lightning and the roar of thunder?
If there are many seconds between the flash of lightning and the roar of thunder, it indicates that the storm is far away. Each second of delay between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder represents a distance of about 1 mile between you and the lightning strike.
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.
Is thunder the eco of lightning?
thunder is the sound of lightning if that is what you are asking
Does thunder flash 5 mins after lightning?
No, thunder actually happens simultaneously with lightning. The sound of thunder is created by the rapid expansion and contraction of the air surrounding a lightning bolt. The time it takes for you to hear thunder after seeing lightning depends on how far away the lightning strike is. Every 5 seconds between seeing a lightning flash and hearing the thunder equals approximately 1 mile of distance.
