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Yes - since light travels faster than sound, you will see the lightning flash before hearing the sound of the thunder.

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13y ago

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What weather comes before a thunderstorm?

When a lightning bolt travels from the cloud to the ground it actually opens up a little hole in the air, called a channel. Once then light is gone the air collapses back in and creates a sound wave that we hear as thunder. The reason we see lightning before we hear thunder is because light travels faster than sound.


How are people affected by thunder and lightning?

because its loud


Why people scared of lightning?

Because it can kill you. Thunder can not.


How many people died from thunder?

Each year, an average of 27 people die from lightning strikes in the United States. Thunder itself does not directly cause deaths, but lightning, which produces thunder, can be deadly.


Why is lightning heard before thunder?

Lighting always comes just before thunder because it is the heat of lightning that causes thunder. Lightning is seen when there is a discharge of atmospheric electricity in the clouds or between clouds and the ground. The energy from the lightning heats the air and causes a sudden expansion of the air (followed by a rapid contraction), which results in the sound called thunder. Since the heat of lightning causes the expansion that results in thunder, the lighting must come first. (see related link below) Because light travels faster than sound, an observer will normally perceive a delay between lightning and thunder. This delay increases with farther distance from the actual lightning strike. People will often count the seconds that pass after they see lightning until they hear the thunder. The shorter the time observed between the two, the closer the lightning is to the observer. - In English units, every 5 seconds of delay is about a mile in distance. - In metric units, every 3 seconds of delay is about a kilometer in distance.


What is the history on thunder and lightning?

it has killed people more than 37 or 100 people


Can you hear thunder?

I can always hear thunder in thunder and lightning, everyone can, except for deaf people of course because they can't hear anything.


Why is the sound of a thunder heard after the lighting is seen although they are produced at the same time?

Light travels faster than sound, so when lightning strikes, the light is seen immediately while the sound takes time to reach our ears. The delay in hearing the thunder allows us to calculate the distance of the storm based on the time difference between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder.


Folk beliefs of thunder and lightning?

Folk beliefs related to thunder and lightning often include the idea that thunder is caused by the gods or spirits expressing their anger or displeasure, while lightning is thought to be a sign of divine intervention or communication. In many cultures, people have created various superstitions and practices to ward off the negative effects of thunder and lightning, such as carrying protective talismans or seeking shelter during storms. Overall, these beliefs reflect a sense of awe and fear towards the powerful forces of nature represented by thunder and lightning.


Why did people hear a loud rumble before the shaking began in christchurch?

P waves are also faster than S waves, and this fact is what allows us to tell where an earthquake was. To understand how this works, let's compare P and S waves to lightning and thunder. Light travels faster than sound, so during a thunderstorm you will first see the lightning and then you will hear the thunder. If you are close to the lightning, the thunder will boom right after the lightning, but if you are far away from the lightning, you can count several seconds before you hear the thunder. The further you are from the storm, the longer it will take between the lightning and the thunder. P waves are like the lightning, and S waves are like the thunder. The P waves travel faster and shake the ground where you are first. Then the S waves follow and shake the ground also. If you are close to the earthquake, the P and S wave will come one right after the other, but if you are far away, there will be more time between the two.


Why do people stay out of swimming pools in a thunder storm?

because water attracts lightning.


Why does thundering occur with out lightning?

While lightning produces very high temperatures, the amount of air it heats is fairly small. In most cases a bolt of lightning is a few miles away, too far away to feel the heat. People have felt the heat from lightning, but only when it struck dangerously close.