Thunder is the sound that we hear when lightning strikes. It is one of the most powerful natural sounds and can be heard from miles away.
The creation of thunder is a complex process that results from a sudden release of energy in the atmosphere. This essay will delve into the science behind thunder and explore what creates it.
How Is Thunder Actually Produced?
Let’s get straight to the topic and learn how thunders are actually manifested! Thunder is produced by the rapid heating and expansion of air molecules that are suddenly compressed by lightning.
When lightning strikes, it creates an intense electrical discharge that ionizes the air around it. This ionized air, also known as plasma, becomes a conductor of electricity and releases tremendous energy. The energy from the lightning rapidly heats the air around it, causing it to expand and create a shockwave that spreads out in all directions. This shockwave is what we hear as thunder.
Do We See Lighting First Or Hear The Thunder?
This is a common doubt among many young minds. Let’s learn about it! The speed of sound in air is approximately around the value of 1,125 feet per second (340 meters per second).
Since the speed of sound is relatively slow compared to the speed of light, the light from the lightning reaches our eyes before we hear the thunder.
This is why we see the lightning before we hear the thunder. The distance between the lightning and the thunder that we hear depends on how far away the lightning is from us.
Generally, we hear thunder as soon as one second after seeing the lightning, and the time difference between the lightning and the thunder increases as the lightning gets further away from us.
The sound of thunder is not a single, continuous sound but is made up of many different sounds that occur at different times.
The initial sound that we hear is the shockwave produced by the rapidly expanding air. This is followed by a series of rolling, rumbling sounds that are created as the shockwave moves through the atmosphere.
The sounds of thunder are influenced by many factors, including the lightning’s location, the atmosphere’s temperature and pressure, and the size and shape of the cloud that the lightning is in.
What Can Influence Thunders?
The environment can also influence the thunder that it is in. For example, thunder can be much louder in a valley than on a hill because the sound waves are reflected off the valley’s walls, increasing the intensity of the sound. Thunder can also be amplified by buildings and other structures, making it sound much louder than it actually is.
Final Words
Let’s conclude all the points we have learned in this article and conclude that thunder results from the rapid heating and expansion of air molecules that are suddenly compressed by lightning.
The shockwave produced by this process spreads out in all directions, creating the sound that we hear as thunder.
The sound of thunder is influenced by many factors, including the lightning’s location, the atmosphere’s temperature and pressure, and the size and shape of the cloud that the lightning is in. Understanding the science behind thunder can help us to appreciate the power and beauty of this incredible natural phenomenon.
I’m a former teacher (and mother of Two Childs) with a background in child development. Here to help you with play-based learning activities for kids. ( Check my Next startup Cledemy.Com)