answersLogoWhite

0

I think the appropriate wording for this question: "why do you see lightning before hearing thunder?" The simple answer is that light travels faster than sound.

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

Why do you see lightning before you see thunder in terms of wave theory?

You see lightning first because light travels faster then sound.Also, you don't see thunder - you hear it.


Do people see lightning before the sound of thunder reaches us?

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


Which one can you see -thunder or lightning?

you can see lightning


Why do you often hear thunder when you see lightning?

You often hear thunder when you see lightning because lightning produces a sudden and rapid heating of the air around it, causing it to expand quickly. This rapid expansion creates a shock wave that we hear as thunder. The farther away you are from the lightning, the longer it takes for the sound to reach you.


Why do you see thunder after you see the flash of lightning?

You don't see thunder. You hear thunder. You hear thunder after seeing the lightning because light travels faster than sound. The further the storm away is, the bigger the time between when you see the lightning and hear the thunder.


Is thunder heard before you see lightning?

No, lightning is seen before thunder is heard. The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound, so light from the lightning reaches us first, followed by the sound of thunder a few seconds later.


If you see lightning and didn't here thunder what dose that mean?

If you see lightning but don't hear thunder, it means the lightning is far away. The speed of light is much faster than the speed of sound, so you usually see lightning before you hear the associated thunder.


Does thunder always mean lightning?

No, thunder doesn't always mean lightning. Thunder is the sound produced by the rapid expansion of air around a lightning bolt as it heats up creating a shock wave. So while thunder is commonly associated with lightning, it is possible to have thunder without seeing the accompanying lightning, especially if the lightning is far away or obstructed from view.


Can you see thunder or lightning?

You see lighting and hear thunder.


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.


Why are you hearing thundering after lightning?

A lightning flash travels at the speed of light. The sound of thunder travels much slower. Therefore, we see the flash before we hear the thunder.


Can lightning come without thunder?

Lightning is the electrical discharge which neutralises the static electricity built up within the cloud or between cloud and earth.The very hot plasma bolt which transmits the electrical current super heats water molecules which expand with such speed that they produce the sound of thunder.The only way I can think that this is not the case is if the air is very dry indeed. Almost without exception, the two will always occur together.