0
The speed of sound in air is approximately 343 meters per second (1,125 feet per second) at room temperature (20°C or 68°F). When lightning occurs, it produces a flash of light that travels at the speed of light, which is significantly faster than sound. Therefore, you will see the lightning before you hear the thunder, as the sound travels more slowly. The time delay between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder can be used to estimate the distance of the lightning strike.
What else can I help you with?
What is the speed of electricity or lightning compared to the speed of sound and light?
The speed of lightning is somewhere between that of light and sound which is why most scientists would agree that the speed of light and the speed of sound make a good comparison to that of lightning and electricity.
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.
Why does lightning first?
The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound, therefore you see lightning first during a thunderstorm, then you hear the thunder. *yikes!* :) ilovecatz1234
Does thunder break the sound barrier?
No, thunder does not break the sound barrier. Thunder is the sound produced by the rapidly expanding and contracting air around a lightning bolt, creating a shock wave that we hear as a loud rumble. The speed of sound in air is about 767 mph, much slower than the speed of a lightning bolt.
Explain why thunder is heard after the lightning is seen?
Thunder is sound- it travels at the speed of sound- about 1100 feet per second. Lightning is light- it travels at the speed of light- about 186,000 miles a second. The light is faster, gets there first.
Is lightning or sound faster?
Lightning. Because it is the speed of light.
Why is it that lightning travels faster than sound?
Light speed is much faster than the speed of sound, ergo the light you see in lightning is visible, before you here the sound.
What is the speed of electricity or lightning compared to the speed of sound and light?
The speed of lightning is somewhere between that of light and sound which is why most scientists would agree that the speed of light and the speed of sound make a good comparison to that of lightning and electricity.
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.
Why does lightning first?
The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound, therefore you see lightning first during a thunderstorm, then you hear the thunder. *yikes!* :) ilovecatz1234
Which of these two is faster is it lightning or thunder?
The lightning. The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound. In addition, lightning creates thunder, therefore it happens first, therefore must be faster. See the related link for more information.
Why do you see a lightning flash before you hear it?
Because the speed of light is faster than the speed of sound.
Why lightning is seen before thunder is heard?
Lightning travels at the speed of light, which is much faster than the speed of sound. When lightning strikes, the light reaches us almost instantaneously, while the sound takes longer to travel to our ears, resulting in a delay between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder.
Does thunder break the sound barrier?
No, thunder does not break the sound barrier. Thunder is the sound produced by the rapidly expanding and contracting air around a lightning bolt, creating a shock wave that we hear as a loud rumble. The speed of sound in air is about 767 mph, much slower than the speed of a lightning bolt.
Why is there a delay between the lightning an thunder?
There is a delay between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder because the speed of light (lightning) is much faster than the speed of sound (thunder). Thus, you SEE lightning first, and then you HEAR thunder later.
Explain why thunder is heard after the lightning is seen?
Thunder is sound- it travels at the speed of sound- about 1100 feet per second. Lightning is light- it travels at the speed of light- about 186,000 miles a second. The light is faster, gets there first.
A sound wave produced by a lightning bolt has a frequency of 36 Hz and a wavelength of 12.0 m what is the speed of the sound wave?
Speed = (frequency) x (wavelength) = (36) x (12) = 432 meters per second.Isn't this a pretty high speed for sound in air . . . ? ? ?
