During a thunderstorm,thunder and lightning occur at the same time. Ev...
The speed of sound is 330 m/s while that of light is 3 x 10^8 m/s
and because of this(Light travels faster than sound) we see Lightning much before that of thunder.
During a thunderstorm,thunder and lightning occur at the same time. Ev...
Why do we see lightning before we hear thunder during a thunderstorm?
During a thunderstorm, we observe a spectacular display of lightning and thunder. Lightning is a result of the buildup and discharge of electric charges in the atmosphere. Thunder, on the other hand, is a result of the expansion of air due to the sudden heating caused by the lightning. Despite occurring simultaneously, we see lightning before we hear thunder. This is because of the differences in the speed of light and sound.
Speed of Light and Sound
Light travels at a speed of 299,792,458 meters per second, whereas sound travels at a speed of approximately 343 meters per second at room temperature. This means that light travels much faster than sound.
Why do we see lightning first?
When lightning occurs, it emits light that travels at the speed of light. Light travels much faster than sound, which is why we see lightning before we hear thunder. The time difference between seeing lightning and hearing thunder can be used to estimate the distance of the lightning. If you count the number of seconds between seeing the lightning and hearing the thunder, and divide it by 3, you can estimate the distance of the lightning in kilometers.
Why is thunder heard later?
Thunder is the sound produced by the rapid expansion of air due to the sudden heating caused by lightning. The sound waves produced by thunder travel much slower than light waves produced by lightning. Therefore, it takes longer for the sound waves to reach our ears than for the light waves to reach our eyes. This is why we hear thunder after seeing lightning.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the reason we see lightning before we hear thunder is because of the differences in the speed of light and sound. Light travels much faster than sound, which is why we see lightning first. Thunder is heard later because sound waves travel slower than light waves. This time difference can be used to estimate the distance of the lightning.
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