What Causes ‘Thunder’ and How Is It Related to Lightning?

Lightning makes thunder because it heats the air really fast. When lightning strikes, it’s like a giant firecracker in the sky, Boom! The hot air expands and pushes the cold air out of the way, making a sound we call thunder. Sometimes you hear it right after the flash, and sometimes it takes a while because the sound travels slower than light.

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Examples

  1. Thunder sounds like a giant firecracker going off in the sky after lightning strikes.
  2. You hear thunder because it takes time for the sound to reach you from where the lightning hit.
  3. Sometimes thunder rolls on and on, like a drum being played far away.

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Categories: Science · lightning· thunder· weather· sound