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It means that the light-flash of the event traveled to you faster than the sound

of it was able to travel.

That's confirmed by some information from Physics, where we learn that light travels

about 800 thousand times faster through air than sound does.

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What does thunderstorms mean?

A transient, sometimes violent storm of thunder and lightning, often accompanied by rain and sometimes hail.


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.


What does it mean if you see a flash of thunder and clap of thunder at almost the exact same time?

It means your too close to the lightning!


Why does thundering occur with out lightning?

While lightning produces very high temperatures, the amount of air it heats is fairly small. In most cases a bolt of lightning is a few miles away, too far away to feel the heat. People have felt the heat from lightning, but only when it struck dangerously close.


Why is lightning heard before thunder?

Lighting always comes just before thunder because it is the heat of lightning that causes thunder. Lightning is seen when there is a discharge of atmospheric electricity in the clouds or between clouds and the ground. The energy from the lightning heats the air and causes a sudden expansion of the air (followed by a rapid contraction), which results in the sound called thunder. Since the heat of lightning causes the expansion that results in thunder, the lighting must come first. (see related link below) Because light travels faster than sound, an observer will normally perceive a delay between lightning and thunder. This delay increases with farther distance from the actual lightning strike. People will often count the seconds that pass after they see lightning until they hear the thunder. The shorter the time observed between the two, the closer the lightning is to the observer. - In English units, every 5 seconds of delay is about a mile in distance. - In metric units, every 3 seconds of delay is about a kilometer in distance.

Related Questions

What would it mean if there were many seconds in between the flash of lightning and the roar of thunder?

If there are many seconds between the flash of lightning and the roar of thunder, it indicates that the storm is far away. Each second of delay between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder represents a distance of about 1 mile between you and the lightning strike.


What does thunderstorms mean?

A transient, sometimes violent storm of thunder and lightning, often accompanied by rain and sometimes hail.


What is the Arabic word for lightening?

if you mean lightening as in getting lighter الصواعق البرق or if you mean lightning as in thunder and lightning


What do the words 'Donder' and 'Blitzen' mean?

Thunder and Lightning; in German, of course.


What does Selena Gomez mean when she says you are the thunder and im the lightning in her new song Naturally?

Them lyrics are from the song Naturally, and they mean: Thunder and Lightning nearly always come together and when you think thunder you think lightning. Selena mean's in Naturally that she's found that special person who belongs with her, like thunder belongs with lightning. It's hard to describe. Lightning comes with thunder so Selena means they are never one with out the other. She's found the thunder to her lightning = she founds the person that belongs with her. III THIINK.


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.


Why do you not hear thunder right away?

If you mean hearing thunder right after a lightning, it is because sound travels slower than light, and thus, you would hear the thunder a bit later than seeing a lightning strike.


What does thunder mean?

thundery rain means there is a chance you may hear thunder and see lightning during a heavy downpour


What does it mean if you see a flash of thunder and clap of thunder at almost the exact same time?

It means your too close to the lightning!


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.


What does raiga mean in English?

Something to do with thunder/lightning. That's what the suffix "rai" can mean, with the correct kanji.


Does it mean the lord is mad when it thunder and lighting?

No. thunder and lightning is caused due to the crashing of the clouds and the reaction taking place due to it.