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Why is lightning seen before sound of thunder is heard even though both occurs simultaneously during thunder storms?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Because the speed of light is faster than the speed of sound. In fact, light arrives at the observer virtually instantaneously, but sound takes almost 5 seconds to travel each mile.
It's simple to observe lightening then count seconds until the thunder is heard to estimate the distance.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThe effect of seeing lightning before hearing thunder is attributed to the speed of light vs. the speed of sound. Light travels at 299,792,458 meters per second where as sound travels slower at 240.29 meters per second (at sea level).
Since light is faster than sound, you see lightning before you hear thunder.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agowell the thunder IS the sound of the lightning,and the reason why you see the flash before you hear the sound is because the speed of light is over 100,000 kilometers per hour faster than the speed of sound witch is only about 800 kph.
The closer the lightning the sooner you will hear the sound look up the "sonic boom" created by a passing fighter jet for more about the "speed of sound"
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If thunder is the sound of lightning could you make an instrument that will allow you to make light and sound in a similar way?
Answer 1 Yes, John Dennis (1657 - 1734) devised a thunder and lightning stage effect for one of his plays which was a flop. He went to a performance of Macbeth and heard his effect being used, which led him to say "Damn them! They will not let my play run, but they steal my thunder!" Yes, but not in the way you mean - thunder is the sound of the air being ripped apart when lightning strikes. The jump of the spark from the clouds to the ground creates a pressure wave in the air that we percieve as sound and refer to as thunder. You could make an instrument that creates lightning like sparking, but the sounds would be popping and buzzing. The instrument would probably be a Tesla coil. Answer 2 It has been a lot of years since I had any science classes, BUT my recollection suggests that answer 1 is incorrect, in that the sound wave is not generated when the air is "ripped apart." As I understand the process, the lightening bolt [an electrical ARC] ionizes a column of air, which results in great HEAT and THERMAL EXPANSION of the air within the column. Then when the expanded air rapidly cools, it rapidly "shrinks," and the COLLISION of the air molecules RETURNING TO FILL THE VOID, creates the shock wave that we hear as a thunder "clap." As answer 1 indicates, ANY spark discharge creates a sound. The ONLY difference in sound VOLUME between a lightening bolt and a static spark [as between your fingertip and a doorknob] is the amount of energy discharged in creating the arc. Research facilities have been generating man-made lightening bolts for years. And, YES you could make an "instrument" to accomplish the same thing, IF you have enough money and knowhow. Answer 3 Yes. There is video of such an instrument here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_PHLUvDZSg Answer 4 If you check out the video in answer 4, note that the "Super Mario Theme" music soundtrack has been added, and what is the subject of the demonstration : music. The arc [spark] "sound" is being fed to an amplifier, which is coupled to the static electric generator, using the music to modulate the static discharge ["lightning"]. The only sound of the arc discharge can only be heard during the first 10 seconds of the video, until they start the music audio input signal. The original question says "make light and sound in a similar way?" The Van der Graf static electric generator in the video is only capable of creating a microscopic "lightning bolt" accompanied by a "microscopic" "thunder clap" [heard only a "sizzling" static sound]. Again, a true monster discharge arc could be generated, IF one had enough money for equipment, and the knowledge to create it. The technology and ability to do so has been around for a long time. Until someone is willing to spend a fortune to accomplish it, we will have to be satisfied with microscopic demonstration models such as the Van der Graf generator. Answer 5 A respectable home made flash + bang lightning device can be made for nearly nothing. To get a firecracker type bang all that is needed is the flash circuit from a disposable camera, a short piece of plastic pipe, three screws and some wire. The spark length is typically a few millimeters long and, as I said, about as loud as a firecracker. Google "trigatron" for construction details. Answer 6. Lightning is about 10 times hotter than the surface of the sun. When a lightning bolt passes through the air it heats it very rapidly, thus causing the air to rapidly expand and compress. This compression is what we hear as thunder.
Does ray Charles really play piano and alto sax simultaneously during his sax solo on how long blues on the album soul meeting with milt Jackson?
No, that's nearly impossible. Milt Jackson sat down and covered the piano part during Charles' solo.
Where can I buy a hat similar to the one Bob Dylan wore during his Rolling Thunder Revue tour in 1975?
http:// www.baronhats.com/Rollingthunder.htm Prepare to sell a kidney, but this is as authentic as it gets!
How does T Taylor swift goes to the bathroom during her shows?
She doesnt go during the show. shes goes before and after
What is the meaning of the song 'Thunder' by Boys Like Girls?
Today is a winding road that's taking me to places that I didn't want to go Whoa (whoa, whoa, whoa) Today in the blink of an eye I'm holding on to something and I do not know why I tried I tried to read between the lines I tried to look in your eyes I want a simple explanation For what I'm feeling inside I gotta find a way out Maybe there's a way out Your voice was the soundtrack of my summer Do you know you're unlike any other? You'll always be my thunder, and I said Your eyes are the brightest of all the colors I don't wanna ever love another You'll always be my thunder So bring on the rain And bring on the thunder Today is a winding road Tell me where to start and tell me something I don't know Whoa (whoa, whoa, whoa) Today I'm on my own I can't move a muscle and I can't pick up the phone I don't know (I don't know, I don't know, I don't know) And now I'm itching for the tall grass And longing for the breeze I need to step outside Just to see if I can breathe I gotta find a way out Maybe there's a way out Your voice was the soundtrack of my summer Do you know you're unlike any other? You'll always be my thunder, and I said Your eyes are the brightest of all the colors I don't wanna ever love another You'll always be my thunder So bring on the rain Yeah I'm walking on a tightrope I'm wrapped up in vines I think we'll make it out But you just gotta give me time Strike me down with lightning Let me feel you in my veins I wanna let you know how much I feel your pain Today is a winding road that's taking me to places that I didn't want to go Whoa Your voice was the soundtrack of my summer Do you know you're unlike any other? You'll always be my thunder, and I said Your eyes are the brightest of all the colors I don't wanna ever love another You'll always be my thunder And bring on the thunder, and I said Your voice was the soundtrack of my summer Do you know you're unlike any other? You'll always be my thunder So bring on the rain Oh baby bring on the pain And listen to the thunder :] source:lyricsmode.com
Is there lightning and thunder during typhoon?
There is no lightning or thunder during the majority of typhoons. However, lightning and thunder have been occasionally reported during typhoons.
Is thunder the same as lightning?
Thunder and lightning occur roughly at the same time during a thunderstorm, but they are different things. Typically you see the lightning first and then you hear the thunder.
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.
Why does thunder ussually occur during storms that have lightning flashes?
The thunder is the sound of lightning but you only hear the thunder after the flash because lightning is faster than the speed of sound.
What is a thunder lightning outcome?
A thunder lightning outcome refers to the simultaneous occurrence of thunder and lightning during a thunderstorm. The thunder is the sound produced by the rapid expansion of heated air surrounding a lightning bolt, while the lightning is the visible discharge of electricity between clouds or between a cloud and the ground. A thunder lightning outcome is a common occurrence during thunderstorms.
What happens during a lightening storm?
Thunder and lightning
Does lightning only strike during thunderstorms?
A thunder storm is one in which a large amount of thunder is heard. Thunder is caused by lightning; it would be more correct to say that a thunderstorm only occurs with lightning strikes.
What is the result of the lightning during the storm?
released energy, thunder.
Why does thunder usually appear during storms that have lightning?
Thunder is the sound made when lightning violently heats air, so that it expands rapidly (think explosion)
Is lightning and thunder alike?
No, though they are closely related phenomena. Lightning is an enormous, bright electrical discharged that takes place during a thunderstorm. Thunder is the booming or cracking sound generate by lightning.
Why during a thunder storm you see lightning first then you hear thunder?
Because light travels faster than sound
What does thunder mean?
thundery rain means there is a chance you may hear thunder and see lightning during a heavy downpour
