Why Do We See Lightning Before We Hear Thunder

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Why Do We See Lightning Before We Hear Thunder?

If we are watching the sky we see the lightning before we hear the thunder. That is because light travels much faster than sound waves. We can estimate the distance of the lightning by counting how many seconds it takes until we hear the thunder. It takes approximately 5 seconds for the sound to travel 1 mile.

Why do we see lightning before we hear thunder because?

In nature a lightning flash and the associated thunder occur at almost the same time in a thunderstorm. A person on the ground sees the lightning flash before hearing the thunder because light at a speed of around 300 000 000 meters per second travels much faster than sound which moves at 340 meters per second.

Why do we see lightning first and then after sometime hear the sound of thunder?

Lightning is seen earlier and thunder is heard later because the speed of sound is 330 m/s and the speed of light is 300 000 000 m/s. Light travels faster than a sound. Thus light from the lightning reaches first to you. The sound from the lightning takes longer to reach and hence heard later.

Can thunder be hear before you see lightning?

Thunder and lightning all occur due to the release of energy – thunder is a soundwave and lightning is the emission of electromagnetic energy. The reason we see a flash of lightning before hearing thunder is because light travels faster than sound.

Why do we see lightning and hear the thunder a few seconds later?

Why do we see lightening and hear thunder a few seconds later? Light travels faster then sound so the light from the lightning hits our eyes before the sound reaches our ears. … You hear thunder 3 seconds after you see the lightening.

Why is thunder after lightning?

Thunder is caused by the rapid expansion of the air surrounding the path of a lightning bolt. … As lightning connects to the ground from the clouds a second stroke of lightning will return from the ground to the clouds following the same channel as the first strike.

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Can thunder hurt you?

What is there to be scared of? Most storms are harmless even soothing to some and nurturing to plants and wildlife. Thunder can’t hurt us of course but lightning strikes can be deadly. … Still lightning strikes are deadly which is why you should go indoors when you hear thunder.

Why can I hear thunder but not see lightning?

Thunder starts as a shockwave from the explosively expanding lightning channel when a large current causes rapid heating. However it is possible that you might see lightning and not hear the thunder because it was too far away. Sometimes this is called “heat lightning” because it occurs most often in the summer.

Can you have thunder without lightning?

Due to the speed of light traveling faster than the speed of sound you will see lightning first then a delay before you hear the thunder. To answer the question no you cannot have thunder unless you see a bolt of lightning.

Why do we see lightning before thunder Class 8?

Sometimes lightning may be seen before the thunder is heard and this is because the distance between the clouds and the surface is very long and the speed of light is much faster than the speed of sound and hence lightning can be seen before the thunder is heard.

Why does thunder shake the house?

Why does the house shake when there is a thunder storm? Your house will shake depending the closeness of the lightning. Thunder is a sonic boom that comes from the rapid heating of the air around a lightning strike. Sonic booms cause massive shaking to nearby objects (your house).

Which is faster lightning or sound?

Yes! Lightning heats the air and causes shock waves. … But you see lightning before you hear thunder because light which travels a million times faster than sound arrives almost instantly. Sound on the other hand takes about five seconds to travel one mile.

What is difference between lightning and thunder?

Lightning is the sudden flash of electricity and light that we witness across the sky during a thunderstorm whereas Thunder is the loud noise and rumbling disturbances in the sky during the harsh weather condition.

Is counting the seconds between lightning and thunder?

Typically a sharp crack or click will indicate that the lightning channel passed nearby. … If you count the number of seconds between the flash of lightning and the sound of thunder and then divide by 5 you’ll get the distance in miles to the lightning: 5 seconds = 1 mile 15 seconds = 3 miles 0 seconds = very close.

Why do you see lightning before you hear thunder quizlet?

Why do we see lightning before we hear thunder? Because lightning (light) travels faster than thunder (sound). … Reflection is the bouncing of light off a surface and refraction is the bending of light as it moves from one material to another.

What attracts lightning to a person?

Myth: Structures with metal or metal on the body (jewelry cell phones Mp3 players watches etc) attract lightning. Fact: Height pointy shape and isolation are the dominant factors controlling where a lightning bolt will strike. The presence of metal makes absolutely no difference on where lightning strikes.

What comes first thunder or lightning?

If we are watching the sky we see the lightning before we hear the thunder. That is because light travels much faster than sound waves. We can estimate the distance of the lightning by counting how many seconds it takes until we hear the thunder. It takes approximately 5 seconds for the sound to travel 1 mile.

Why do trees get hit by lightning?

Because lightning tends to hit tall objects trees are likely targets. They’re especially prone to lightning strikes because electricity seeks the path of least resistance and the sap and moisture inside a tree make it a better conductor than the surrounding air.

Can lightning strike a phone?

Lightning can follow the wire to the handset and can injure the person using a landline. … If someone is struck by lightning and they have a cell phone on them it will usually melt or burn. People have taken that and blamed the cell phone Jensenius said but in reality it is unrelated.

Can lightning hit you in your house?

Even though your home is a safe shelter during a lightning storm you may still be at risk. About one-third of lightning-strike injuries occur indoors. Here are some tips to keep safe and reduce your risk of being struck by lightning while indoors.

Why is it safe to sit inside a car during a thunderstorm?

Cars are safe from lightning because of the metal cage surrounding the people inside the vehicle. This may sound counter-intuitive because metal is a good conductor of electricity but the metal cage of a car directs the lightning charge around the vehicle occupants and safely into the ground.

What is lightning without thunder called?

Heat lightning also known as silent lightning summer lightning or dry lightning (not to be confused with dry thunderstorms which are also often called dry lightning) is a misnomer used for the faint flashes of lightning on the horizon or other clouds from distant thunderstorms that do not appear to have …

Is it bad to see lightning?

Use the 30-30 rule when visibility is good and there is nothing obstructing your view of the thunderstorm. When you see lightning count the time until you hear thunder. If that time is 30 seconds or less the thunderstorm is within six miles (ten kilometers) of you and is dangerous. Seek shelter immediately.

What does it mean when lightning keeps flashing?

Understanding Lightning: Continuing Current/Hot Lightning

Flashes which contain both return strokes and continuing current are also common. These flashes will flicker leaders/return strokes and also have short periods of constant illumination continuing current.

What is the strongest color of lightning?

White – this is by far one of the most dangerous color of lightning due to the fact that this type of lightning is the hottest. This color can indicate a low concentration of moisture in the air as well as a high concentration of dust in the air.

Why does thunder sound like a bomb?

The sound originates at the lightning. The superheated air rapidly expands and then collapses back into itself that rapid expansion and collapse is the source of the sound. If that happened at one spot then all the sound would reach your ears at the same time and you would hear a single explosion.

Can lightning strike the same place twice?

Myth: Lightning never strikes in one place twice. Fact: Actually lightning can and often does strike the same place repeatedly — especially if it’s a tall and isolated object. For example the Empire State Building is hit about 25 times per year . 5.

What causes lightning explain?

Lightning is an electrical discharge caused by imbalances between storm clouds and the ground or within the clouds themselves. Most lightning occurs within the clouds. … This heat causes surrounding air to rapidly expand and vibrate which creates the pealing thunder we hear a short time after seeing a lightning flash.

Why does thunder occur Class 8?

spark as a flash of lightning is the sky. The electric sparks of lightning heat the nearby air in the sky to very high temperatures. Due to this heat the air in the sky expands rapidly and produces a loud sound which we call thunder.

What is lightning short answer?

Lightning is a very powerful electrical discharge made during a thunderstorm. The electric current makes the air very hot. The suddenly heated air expands very quickly which causes thunder. Sometimes lightning happens between clouds. … If it goes from cloud to ground it can strike a person.

Should I unplug stuff during a storm?

Anything that’s plugged into an outlet in your home is at risk of suffering damage from an electrical surge during thunderstorms. If an electrical storm has been forecast unplug your computer laptop and other devices and consider unplugging appliances.

What is red lightning?

Sprites also known as red lightning are electrical discharges that appear as bursts of red light above clouds during thunderstorms. … The researchers hope to learn more about the physical and chemical processes that give rise to sprites and other forms of upper atmospheric lightning.

Why is thunder so hard?

Why is thunder so loud? It’s because the amount of electrical energy that flows from the cloud to the ground is so enormous: it’s like a very big waterfall of electricity. The louder the sound that you hear the closer you are to the lightning. Light travels through air much faster than sound.