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Thunder is created when lightning passes through the air. The lightning discharge heats the air rapidly and causes it to expand. 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.
What is the relationship between thunder and lighting?
Thunder is caused by lightning. When a lightning bolt travels from the cloud to the ground it actually opens up a little hole in the air, called a channel. Once then light is gone the air collapses back in and creates a sound wave that we hear as thunder.
What is the relationship between lightning and thunder quizlet?
What is the relationship between lightning and thunder? Lightning is an electric discharge that forms between clouds or between a cloud and the ground. The air around the lightning bolt expands rapidly to produce sound waves that we call 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 and thunder same?
People talk about thunder and lightning as if they are different. Actually, lightning and thunder are more than just related: They are the same thing. Lightning is the visible flash of the spark, and thunder is the sound. Because light travels fast (186,000 miles per second), we see it instantaneously.
What causes lightning explain?
Lightning is an electrical discharge caused by imbalances between storm clouds and the ground, or within the clouds themselves. Most lightning occurs within the clouds. This heat causes surrounding air to rapidly expand and vibrate, which creates the pealing thunder we hear a short time after seeing a lightning flash.
What is the difference between lightning and lightening?
Lightening is the present participle of the verb lighten. Lightning is the electrical discharge that happens during storms.
Which is safest in a thunderstorm?
Crouch down in a ball-like position with your head tucked and hands over your ears so that you are down low with minimal contact with the ground. Never shelter under an isolated tree. Never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter. Immediately get out of and away from ponds, lakes, and other bodies of water.
Why do thunder and lightning usually happen together quizlet?
AIR is NOT a good conductor of electricity (electricity does not flow easily through it). ONLY WHEN A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN CHARGE BT + AND – AREAS OCCURS CAN A LIGHTNING BOLT OCCUR. Such intense heats VIOLENTLY EXPANDS the air and creates a SOUND WAVE that we hear as thunder.
What causes thunder and lightning quizlet?
What causes it? -The rain in a thunderstorm causes an electrical charge separation between the top and bottom of a thunderstorm cloud. ONLY when a huge difference in charge between positive and negative areas occurs can a lightning bolt occur.
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.
Why do trees get hit by lightning?
WHY LIGHTNING STRIKES TREES They’re especially prone to lightning strikes because electricity seeks the path of least resistance, and the sap and moisture inside a tree make it a better conductor than the surrounding air.
What is the strongest color of lightning?
White – this is by far one of the most dangerous color of lightning due to the fact that this type of lightning is the hottest. This color can indicate a low concentration of moisture in the air as well as a high concentration of dust in the air.
What is worse thunder or lightning?
Both occur at the same time during a thunderstorm, but since light travels faster than sound, lightning is seen first before one can hear the sound of thunder. Lightning is fast and very hot while thunder can usher in heavy rain and strong winds, but lightning is more dangerous and destructive than thunder.
Who is the god of lightning?
Zeus is the god of lightning in Greek mythology. He is the youngest son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea.
Is Thor the god of thunder or lightning?
In addition to being the god of thunder, Thor is also the god of lightning, storms, strength, and protection. He is sometimes associated with fertility, protecting mankind, and blessing weddings. Thor possessed long red hair and a beard.
What color is lightning?
The distinctive blue-white color of lightning is caused by light emitted as the electrons drop back to their original energy states. Seen from above, lightning storms also produce less well-known emissions of blue or red light above the clouds, known as jets and sprites.
Can lightning power a city?
While it’s true that a single lightning bolt could power the entire city of Santa Fe for about a minute, there are some issues with capturing lightning as an energy source. But actually, only a fraction of that energy is in the form of electrical current—much of the energy goes to heating the air.
Why is thunder so loud?
A big noise Why is thunder so loud? It’s because the amount of electrical energy that flows from the cloud to the ground is so enormous: it’s like a very big waterfall of electricity. The louder the sound that you hear, the closer you are to the lightning. Light travels through air much faster than sound.
