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Judy
JordanLightning travels faster than thunder. Lightning is a visible discharge of electricity that moves at the speed of light, which is about 186,000 miles per second. Thunder, on the other hand, is the sound created by the rapid expansion of air after lightning heats it up, traveling at the speed of sound, which is approximately 1,125 feet per second.
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Why do we hear thunder a few seconds after seeing lightning?
Light travels faster than sound.
Why do thunder and lightning arrive at different times?
Thunder and lightning arrive at different times because light travels faster than sound. Lightning is the visual flash of electricity that moves almost instantaneously, while thunder is the sound created by the rapid expansion of air around the lightning bolt, which takes longer to reach our ears.
Can Lightning and thunder occur simultaneously?
No, they do not occur simultaneously. Lightning is the visible discharge of electricity from a thunderstorm, while thunder is the sound caused by the rapid expansion and contraction of air surrounding a lightning bolt. Lightning is seen before thunder is heard because light travels faster than sound.
Explain why thunder is heard after the lightning is seen?
Thunder is sound- it travels at the speed of sound- about 1100 feet per second. Lightning is light- it travels at the speed of light- about 186,000 miles a second. The light is faster, gets there first.
Why don't the thunder and lightning come together?
Thunder and lighting do occur together during a thunderstorm. Lightning is a sudden discharge of electricity in the atmosphere, which creates the bright light that we see, while thunder is the sound created by the rapid expansion of air around the lightning bolt. Light travels faster than sound, so we see the lightning before we hear the thunder.
