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Light is virtually instantaneous over any distance you'd be aware of a thunderstorm going on. Sound, however, takes five seconds to travel through air for each mile. If the thunder and the lightning are simultaneous, the lightning strike is very close to you. If the thunder is five seconds after the lightning, the lightning was one mile away. If the thunder is ten seconds after the lightning, the lightning was 2 miles away, and so on.

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Why does thundering occur with out lighting?

Thunder is caused by the rapid expansion and contraction of air surrounding a lightning bolt. While thunder is typically associated with lightning, it is possible to hear thunder without seeing the associated lightning if the lightning is occurring far away or behind clouds. This phenomenon is known as "heat lightning."


Do you see lightning before you hear thunder?

Yes.Lightning reaches our eyes before thunder reaches our ears because light travels faster than sound.Light travels at the rate of 186,282 miles per second, while sound is much slower, 1,087 feet, or about 1/5 of a mile, per second.You can tell how far away a storm is by counting the seconds between the lightning flash and the clap of thunder, every 5 seconds between the two equals one mile!Lightning causes the thunder, so it actually has to precede the thunder. If you are close to the lightning, they may seem to occur simultaneously. Since light travels faster than sound, the thunder will always lag behind the lightning.Light moves at 299 million metres per second. Sound moves at 340 metres per second (at sea level in air). When lightning occurs, the light and the creation of the sound occur at the same time and place. Thunder is due to the rapid expansion of superheated air which the lightning causes.The flash of light (lightning) arrives first because light waves move at roughly a million times faster than sound waves. By counting the seconds between flash and sound (assuming the storm is not so violent that lightning flashes and thunder claps cannot be paired off), you can determine how close it was to you.In the English system, each 5 seconds difference is about a mile away. In the metric system, every 3 seconds is about a kilometer. Differences in elevation can make this imprecise.If the flash and sound are simultaneous, the source of the lightning is very close, so you might want to go inside immediately and if possible, not touch anything connected to the house's electrical, plumbing, or wired telephone systems. If you are outdoors, stay out from under trees and away from tall objects and metal fences. Keep a low profile, even if it means ducking into a ditch.Remember that electricity seeks the path of least resistance to ground, and the rain that accompanies the lightning enhances that effect, so stay dry and indoors - and avoid conductive systems as described above.


How To know how far away lighting is?

To measure the distance of the site of lightening, you will need a stopwatch. As soon as lightening occurs, turn on the stopwatch and wait until you here the roar of thunder. Stop the stopwatch as soon as you hear the sound of thunder. Multiply the time with 340 and the value you get will be the distance of the lightening from the place you are standing. The principle behind this is that, light travels very fast. As soon as lightening occurs, you can realize the flash. But sound travels at an average speed of 340 meters/second. So the sound of thunder takes sometime to reach your ears in spite of the fact that both thunder and lightening have the same origin. By multiplying the time of the stopwatch with 340, you calculate the distance travelled by the sound wave, which is also the distance of the source of lightening from the place you are standing at.


Why do you hear thunder before lightning?

Lightning causes the thunder, so it actually has to precede the thunder. If you are close to the lightning, they may seem to occur simultaneously. Since light travels faster than sound, the thunder will always lag behind the lightning.Light moves at 299 million metres per second. Sound moves at 340 metres per second (at sea level in air). When lightning occurs, the light and the creation of the sound occur at the same time and place. Thunder is due to the rapid expansion of superheated air which the lightning causes.The flash of light (lightning) arrives first because light waves move at roughly a million times faster than sound waves. By counting the seconds between flash and sound (assuming the storm is not so violent that lightning flashes and thunder claps cannot be paired off), you can determine how close it was to you.In the English system, each 5 seconds difference is about a mile away. In the metric system, every 3 seconds is about a kilometer. Differences in elevation can make this imprecise.If the flash and sound are simultaneous, the source of the lightning is very close, so you might want to go inside immediately and if possible, not touch anything connected to the house's electrical, Plumbing, or wired telephone systems. If you are outdoors, stay out from under trees and away from tall objects and metal fences. Keep a low profile, even if it means ducking into a ditch.Remember that electricity seeks the path of least resistance to ground, and the rain that accompanies the lightning enhances that effect, so stay dry and indoors - and avoid conductive systems as described above. THIS IS TOO LONG


Why does god make thunder and lightning?

In many religious beliefs, thunder and lightning are seen as natural occurrences that are part of God's creation. Some interpretations suggest that they are used by God to demonstrate power and authority, emphasize his presence, or serve as symbols of divine communication and guidance. Ultimately, the reasons behind why God makes thunder and lightning are open to individual interpretation based on one's spiritual or religious beliefs.

Related Questions

Why does thundering occur with out lighting?

Thunder is caused by the rapid expansion and contraction of air surrounding a lightning bolt. While thunder is typically associated with lightning, it is possible to hear thunder without seeing the associated lightning if the lightning is occurring far away or behind clouds. This phenomenon is known as "heat lightning."


Do you see lightning before you hear thunder?

Yes.Lightning reaches our eyes before thunder reaches our ears because light travels faster than sound.Light travels at the rate of 186,282 miles per second, while sound is much slower, 1,087 feet, or about 1/5 of a mile, per second.You can tell how far away a storm is by counting the seconds between the lightning flash and the clap of thunder, every 5 seconds between the two equals one mile!Lightning causes the thunder, so it actually has to precede the thunder. If you are close to the lightning, they may seem to occur simultaneously. Since light travels faster than sound, the thunder will always lag behind the lightning.Light moves at 299 million metres per second. Sound moves at 340 metres per second (at sea level in air). When lightning occurs, the light and the creation of the sound occur at the same time and place. Thunder is due to the rapid expansion of superheated air which the lightning causes.The flash of light (lightning) arrives first because light waves move at roughly a million times faster than sound waves. By counting the seconds between flash and sound (assuming the storm is not so violent that lightning flashes and thunder claps cannot be paired off), you can determine how close it was to you.In the English system, each 5 seconds difference is about a mile away. In the metric system, every 3 seconds is about a kilometer. Differences in elevation can make this imprecise.If the flash and sound are simultaneous, the source of the lightning is very close, so you might want to go inside immediately and if possible, not touch anything connected to the house's electrical, plumbing, or wired telephone systems. If you are outdoors, stay out from under trees and away from tall objects and metal fences. Keep a low profile, even if it means ducking into a ditch.Remember that electricity seeks the path of least resistance to ground, and the rain that accompanies the lightning enhances that effect, so stay dry and indoors - and avoid conductive systems as described above.


How To know how far away lighting is?

To measure the distance of the site of lightening, you will need a stopwatch. As soon as lightening occurs, turn on the stopwatch and wait until you here the roar of thunder. Stop the stopwatch as soon as you hear the sound of thunder. Multiply the time with 340 and the value you get will be the distance of the lightening from the place you are standing. The principle behind this is that, light travels very fast. As soon as lightening occurs, you can realize the flash. But sound travels at an average speed of 340 meters/second. So the sound of thunder takes sometime to reach your ears in spite of the fact that both thunder and lightening have the same origin. By multiplying the time of the stopwatch with 340, you calculate the distance travelled by the sound wave, which is also the distance of the source of lightening from the place you are standing at.


What does you are the thunder and i am the lightning mean?

it is usually referring to 2 people that are in love and they come one after another always right behind each other.


Why do you hear thunder before lightning?

Lightning causes the thunder, so it actually has to precede the thunder. If you are close to the lightning, they may seem to occur simultaneously. Since light travels faster than sound, the thunder will always lag behind the lightning.Light moves at 299 million metres per second. Sound moves at 340 metres per second (at sea level in air). When lightning occurs, the light and the creation of the sound occur at the same time and place. Thunder is due to the rapid expansion of superheated air which the lightning causes.The flash of light (lightning) arrives first because light waves move at roughly a million times faster than sound waves. By counting the seconds between flash and sound (assuming the storm is not so violent that lightning flashes and thunder claps cannot be paired off), you can determine how close it was to you.In the English system, each 5 seconds difference is about a mile away. In the metric system, every 3 seconds is about a kilometer. Differences in elevation can make this imprecise.If the flash and sound are simultaneous, the source of the lightning is very close, so you might want to go inside immediately and if possible, not touch anything connected to the house's electrical, Plumbing, or wired telephone systems. If you are outdoors, stay out from under trees and away from tall objects and metal fences. Keep a low profile, even if it means ducking into a ditch.Remember that electricity seeks the path of least resistance to ground, and the rain that accompanies the lightning enhances that effect, so stay dry and indoors - and avoid conductive systems as described above. THIS IS TOO LONG


Why do you see lightning before you hear thunder when both occur at the same time?

Lightning causes the thunder, so it actually has to precede the thunder. If you are close to the lightning, they may seem to occur simultaneously. Since light travels faster than sound, the thunder will always lag behind the lightning.Light moves at 299 million metres per second. Sound moves at 340 metres per second (at sea level in air). When lightning occurs, the light and the creation of the sound occur at the same time and place. Thunder is due to the rapid expansion of superheated air which the lightning causes.The flash of light (lightning) arrives first because light waves move at roughly a million times faster than sound waves. By counting the seconds between flash and sound (assuming the storm is not so violent that lightning flashes and thunder claps cannot be paired off), you can determine how close it was to you.In the English system, each 5 seconds difference is about a mile away. In the metric system, every 3 seconds is about a kilometer. Differences in elevation can make this imprecise.If the flash and sound are simultaneous, the source of the lightning is very close, so you might want to go inside immediately and if possible, not touch anything connected to the house's electrical, Plumbing, or wired telephone systems. If you are outdoors, stay out from under trees and away from tall objects and metal fences. Keep a low profile, even if it means ducking into a ditch.Remember that electricity seeks the path of least resistance to ground, and the rain that accompanies the lightning enhances that effect, so stay dry and indoors - and avoid conductive systems as described above. THIS IS TOO LONG


Why does god make thunder and lightning?

In many religious beliefs, thunder and lightning are seen as natural occurrences that are part of God's creation. Some interpretations suggest that they are used by God to demonstrate power and authority, emphasize his presence, or serve as symbols of divine communication and guidance. Ultimately, the reasons behind why God makes thunder and lightning are open to individual interpretation based on one's spiritual or religious beliefs.


My dog is terrified of thunder and lightning but doesn't respond to being stroked how can I help him?

put him inside of the nearest warm bathtub and scrub behind his left ear with honey


What is the science behind the thunder tube?

the thunder tube + science = sound waves.


When was Behind Closed Doors - Thunder album - created?

Behind Closed Doors - Thunder album - was created on 1995-01-23.


What are the release dates for Ace Lightning - 2002 Behind the Mask 1-8?

Ace Lightning - 2002 Behind the Mask 1-8 was released on: USA: 28 October 2002


What is the duration of Behind the Music?

The duration of Behind the Music is -5400.0 seconds.