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The temperature of the air in the lightning channel may reach as high as 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun. Immediately after the flash, the air cools and contracts quickly. This rapid expansion and contraction creates the sound wave that we hear as thunder.
What causes sound of thunder?
Thunder is caused by the rapid expansion of the air surrounding the path of a lightning bolt. From the clouds to a nearby tree or roof, a lightning bolt takes only a few thousandths of a second to split through the air. The loud thunder that follows the lightning bolt is commonly said to come from the bolt itself.
Why do we hear thunder before we see lighting?
If we are watching the sky, we see the lightning before we hear the thunder. That is because light travels much faster than sound waves. We can estimate the distance of the lightning by counting how many seconds it takes until we hear the thunder.
Can you have lightning without thunder?
No, it is not possible to have thunder without lightning. Thunder starts as a shockwave from the explosively expanding lightning channel when a large current causes rapid heating. However, it is possible that you might see lightning and not hear the thunder because it was too far away. Thunder is caused by lightning.
Is lightning hotter than the sun?
In fact, lightning can heat the air it passes through to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit (5 times hotter than the surface of the sun). When lightning strikes a tree, the heat vaporizes any water in its path possibly causing the tree to explode or a strip of bark to be blown off.
Is it bad to take a bath during a thunderstorm?
No. Lightning can travel through plumbing. It is best to avoid all water during a lightning storm. Do not shower, bathe, wash dishes, or wash your hands.
How far away is thunder when you hear it?
Thunder can be heard up to 25 miles away, and lightning strikes have been documented to occur as far as 25 miles from thunderstorms – known as a “bolt from the blue.” So if you can hear thunder, you’re close enough to be hit by lightning, and sheltering indoors or in an enclosed car is your safest bet.
Does thunder only happen when its raining?
This can occur when storm clouds form from moisture at very high levels, but as the air below is dry, rain evaporates before it falls to Earth. So thunder can happen when there’s no rain in sight!Oct 21, 2018.
What happens when the thunder fades?
All those vibrations can make a big boom, which you hear as thunder. Another source of sound comes after the lightning fades. During the lightning strike, the electrons open up pockets in the air they cut through. When the electricity fades, air rushes back into those pockets.
Why is there lightning but no rain?
Dry thunderstorm refers to thunder and lightning that occur without bringing rain to the ground. In fact, the thunder-bearing clouds do produce rain but the rain droplets have evaporated in the air before reaching the ground. The anvil cloud is so high that rain coming from it evaporates before reaching the ground.
Where does lightning strike the most?
The most lightning-struck location in the world Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela is the place on Earth that receives the most lightning strikes. Massive thunderstorms occur on 140-160 nights per year with an average of 28 lightning strikes per minute lasting up to 10 hours at a time.
What is the strongest color of lightning?
White: most powerful lightning color White is the most dangerous color of lighting. It suggests both a low concentration of moisture and a high concentration of dust in air. We all are aware that being hit by lightning can have serious consequences.
How hot is purple lightning?
It can reach temperatures approaching 30,000 K (55,000 °F). This is five times hotter than the surface of our sun!Dec 13, 2007.
Are U safe in a car from lightning?
Fact: Most cars are safe from lightning, but it is the metal roof and metal sides that protect you, NOT the rubber tires. When lightning strikes a vehicle, it goes through the metal frame into the ground. Don’t lean on doors during a thunderstorm. Myth: A lightning victim is electrified.
Which is hotter lightning or lava?
Lightning is way hotter. Lightning is up to 70000 degrees fahrenheit but lava is just 2240 degrees fahrenheit. Simply it is Lava, because it is having highest temperature where as lightning accumulate huge charge which causes burning. Lava has 1200 degree Centigrade.
Can I pee during a thunderstorm?
Very hard, perhaps impossible, to kill yourself by peeing on high-voltage things. A toilet is probably as safe a place as any in a lightning storm, if you’re not touching metal. If you have metal plumbing instead of PVC, lightning can follow the pipes through your walls and give you a good (perhaps fatal) jolt.
Is it safe to sit on a balcony during a thunderstorm?
Stay away from windows and doors: Sitting on an open porch to watch a thunderstorm is also dangerous. It is best to be in an interior room during a thunderstorm.
What happens when a lightning hits a plane?
Lightning will usually hit a protruding part of the plane, such as the nose or the tip of the wing. The aircraft then flies through the lightning flash, which travels along the body, having chosen the path of least resistance.
