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When a bolt of lightning discharges, it heats the air around it to a temperature of several thousand degrees. This causes the air to suddenly expand, creating a partial vacuum around the bolt's path. When the air rushes back into the vacuum, it creates a loud clap. The sound echoing off the clouds and ground is what we call thunder. That is why you only hear a bang when lightning strikes nearby. All of the sound is traveling away from you. When it is at a distance, you hear the rolling echoes.

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16y ago

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