answersLogoWhite

0

Lightning is an electrical discharge between positively and negatively charged regions, usually cloud-to-cloud or cloud-to-ground, typically generated by thunderstorms.

Thunder is an acoustic wave caused by the expansion of air around a lightning discharge. The temperature of the air ionized by a lightning bolt can be several thousand degrees Celsius, and its expansion reaches supersonic velocity. This shock wave creates the sound vibration known as thunder, which travels at the speed of sound from the bolt (about 340 m/sec or 1225 kph at sea level).

In English units, this allows an approximate calculation of the distance from the bolt in miles. This is done by dividing the time in seconds between the flash and the sound by 5 (the speed being about 1116 ft/sec). In metric terms, about every 3 seconds is a kilometer. However, this includes a vertical component, altitude, so is not very accurate.

(see related question)
lighting is made because warm air and warm air mix together. the warm air goes up and makes clouds. the warm air is positive and the cold is negative. when to much negitve builds up at the bottom of the cloud it lets ou a bolt of energy or lighting.
Lightning is a massive electrostatic discharge between electrically charged regions within clouds, or between a cloud and the Earth's surface. The charged regions within the atmosphere temporarily equalize themselves through a lightning flash, commonly referred to as a strike if it hits an object on the ground.

User Avatar

Wiki User

8y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Earth Science

What causes continuous lightning without thunder?

Continuous lightning without thunder can be caused by a phenomenon called "heat lightning," which occurs when distant lightning flashes are too far away for the sound of thunder to be heard.


What costs thunder?

Did you mean 'what causes thunder'. I will say the answer for that question. It is actually the lightning that causes thunder. Lightning causes thunder by super-heating a small area of air which then causes an electric current. According to my knowledge, this is the answer for your question.


What causes the phenomenon of lightning in clouds without the accompanying sound of thunder?

Lightning in clouds without the sound of thunder is often caused by heat lightning. This type of lightning occurs when a storm is far away and the sound of thunder cannot travel as far as the light from the lightning.


Why does lightning cause thunder?

Lightning is an electric discharge from the cloud to ground (although you can have other types, such as cloud to cloud). When the lightning strikes it heats up the surrounding air so fast that it causes an explosion, which is heard as thunder.


What causes lots of lightning but no thunder during a storm?

Lightning without thunder during a storm is typically caused by a phenomenon known as heat lightning. Heat lightning occurs when lightning strikes far away and the sound of thunder does not travel as far as the light from the strike. This can happen when the storm is too far away for the sound waves to reach your location, resulting in the appearance of lightning without the accompanying thunder.

Related Questions

Does thunder cause lightning or does lightning cause thunder. Explain?

Lightning causes thunder. Lightning is a massive electrical discharge that you see as a bolt or flash of light. Thunder is the sound caused when the lightning superheats the air, creating a shockwave.


What causes thunder after a lightning strike?

The electricity in the clouds.


What causes continuous lightning without thunder?

Continuous lightning without thunder can be caused by a phenomenon called "heat lightning," which occurs when distant lightning flashes are too far away for the sound of thunder to be heard.


Why there is lightning before thunder?

lighting comes before thunder because it is the heat of lighting that causes thunder


What costs thunder?

Did you mean 'what causes thunder'. I will say the answer for that question. It is actually the lightning that causes thunder. Lightning causes thunder by super-heating a small area of air which then causes an electric current. According to my knowledge, this is the answer for your question.


Which phenomenon takes first'Lightning'or' Thunder'?

Lightning occurs very slightly sooner, and causes thunder.


What causes the phenomenon of lightning in clouds without the accompanying sound of thunder?

Lightning in clouds without the sound of thunder is often caused by heat lightning. This type of lightning occurs when a storm is far away and the sound of thunder cannot travel as far as the light from the lightning.


How does thunder?

Thunder is a sound made by lightning, where the sudden increase in pressure and heat from the lightning causes a rapid expansion of air that resulted in a loud sound.


What causes thunder and lightning, and why are they so exciting to kids"?

Thunder and lightning are caused by the rapid expansion and contraction of air around a lightning bolt. This creates a shockwave that we hear as thunder. Lightning is exciting to kids because it is powerful and unpredictable, sparking curiosity and wonder.


What causes the 5 elements of thunderstorms starting with lightning?

hummidity winds, thunder, lightning, winds


Why does lightning cause thunder?

Lightning is an electric discharge from the cloud to ground (although you can have other types, such as cloud to cloud). When the lightning strikes it heats up the surrounding air so fast that it causes an explosion, which is heard as thunder.


How does thunder causes?

when lightning strikes it opens up a hole in the air called channel then after lightning strike air collapsed back in creating soundwaves called thunder